Du Pain et Des Idées
Christophe Vasseur’s breads are worth crossing town for, and many people do. Beyond the famous pain des amies pictured above, his viennoiseries are really something special. Croissants and pain au chocolat are reliable, but the various escargots, with flavors that change with the seasons, always present a delicious dilemma. On a recent visit, both the pistache chocolat and citron amande made it into my bike basket. The chausson aux pommes is filled with pure, not-to-sweet apple, and is something of a revelation for those used to run of the mill apple turnovers. Sample your sweets (or some of the savory breads sold from a basket near the register) at the picnic table outside, or on a bench at the banks of the nearby Canal.