Paris - Pastries??

[annkof]

Hi All: Am leaving for Paris on a week long vacation and want to do a tour of the better boulangeries/pastry shops while I am there. Any suggestions/recommendations?? Thanks in advance!

[notmartha]

Just saw this on cnn.com

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/DESTIN...

[ChefJune]

Linda has quite a palate, so I'd say her recommendations would be good ones, and clearly current.

[notmartha]

Great! I'll definitely check out the ones on 7th and 15th. My sister told me I must try Gosselin as well. Since it's close to Lourve I'll have to at least get something to sample.

What do you think of Lenotre (not on the above list)? I liked their chocolate dessert while visiting their branch at Las Vegas, and saw from their website and my Paris map that they have a Cafe Lenotre in the Eiffel area. Are the food good (both savory and sweet)?

I remembered their ice cream was very good also.

Hoping to find the patisserie in 7th that was close to the hotel in my visit 10 years ago. They had the most amazing pear-almond tart that I can never get tired of.

[Dodo]

Not sure what patisserie in the 7th you have in mind, Martha, but I definitely recommend Millet, 103, Rue Saint-Dominique. Patisseries to die for.
Lenotre is ok for patisseries, IMO, but not necessarily for food.

[notmartha]

Don't even know the name, but it was on/near Rue Amelie, near the hotel we stayed at the time - La Jardin de Eiffel.

Thanks for the rec for Millet - will check that out.

[Dodo]

Millet on Saint-Dominique is right around the corner from Rue Amélie.
It could very well be the one you have in mind.

[LMGM]

I second and triple Millet. I'm almost reluctant to tell other people about it, because it's wonderfully quiet as well. They have a small amount of seating, so you can actually order some croissants and coffee and just sit down. Their other pastries are delicious, but the sublime experience is just the croissant beurre.

[notmartha]

Thanks! Sounds like just the thing for a light breakfast.

The one I remembered ten years ago didn't have seats, but then I guess a lot could have happened.

[Dodo]

Martha, things do change within 10 years!

Gérard Mulot on Rue de Seine (6th arr.) added a small bar and chairs for the ones wanting coffee and croissants as well. In fact, those small businesses all realized they can make a little more money by adding tables and chairs, since they make the money rather with beverages than with the baguettes.

[ChefJune]

I continue to be amazed by how many Americans who live in or frequent Paris are possibly unaware of the boulangerie of Jean Luc Poujouran in the 7th. To my mind, his bread and cookies both outshine Poilane's and have for years!

[PBSF]

Jean Poujouran did make some wonderful breads and cookies. Sadly, he longer bake for retail customers.

[An American Living in London]

Jean Paul Hevin ,rue Fauborg Saint Honore, is the world's greatest chocolatier(arguably) and has a great lunch room on the top floor of his shop.Simply and absolutely sinful!!!

[PBSF]

Check out Dorie Greenspan's book, Paris Sweets. Definitely Pierre Herme for the showpiece pastries. Laduree has good macaroons and croissants. Like most breakfast pastries, get them in the morning when they are fresh. Mulot has good fancy pastries and croissants but the bread and the other viennoise are just ok. Au Levain du Marais on r. de Turenne has great croissants, especially the almond; also good breads. The breads and financiers are excellent at Kayser in his rue Monge locations. I don't find them as good in his EK outlets or at Galerie Lafayette. Of course Poilane on r. du Cherche-Midi for his Pain Poilane, raisin bread and apple tart. Strohrer on r. Montorgueil for fraisier, kugelhopf and baba au rhum. Sacha Finkelsztajn on r. des Rosier for Jewish style pastries and breads.

[Miffy2020]

I love Laduree. Check out their website. There are, I believe, three locations (and long queues at each!).

[FataMagistra]

Like many others, I thought the breads at Maison Kayser on rue Monge (5eme) and the pastries at Gerard Mulot (rue de Seine, 6eme) were fabulous and delicious. Next time, I'd love to try Aoki. Although I enjoyed the macaroons at Laduree, I wasn't blown away by them (probably a victim of over-high expectations!)

Finally, although it's not a patisserie/boulanger, the ice creams at Berthillon really were out of this world delicious, especially the marrons glaces and armagnac with prunes!

[etowernyc]

might be more of a chocolate place, but pierre herme is a necessity. the macaroons (something i was not necessarily gung ho about before going there) are unbelievable.