My Neighourhood Boulangerie!
It doesn’t have the curb appeal, or the pretentious air of a Parisian bakery like Angelina’s.
And I would never have found it had it not been for a storeowner a few doors down who highly recommended it to me as the best place for coffee and baked goods.
Boy was he right!
Capuccinos with a fresh pain au chocolat!
With my first visit, I was a fan of this little boulangerie, called Les Petits Pains de la Mediterranée, and the decaf cappuccino that I ordered was as smooth and buttery as the pain au chocolat that I had to accompany it.
Owners: Clearly a labour of love! (Those are hot dogs smothered with cheese on the tray! What!!!)
On multiple visits, as in every morning, I came to know Tarik and his wife, Mounara, the proud of proprietors of this small establishment which does a brisk business with a loyal clientele between 7 am and 7:30 pm every day and in the morning on Sunday.
This couple works hard!
A regular taking her time picking out an assortment of delicious baked goods!
These go fast in the morning and then more are replenished for the noon rush!
On one of my visits, I was grilling Tarik about the business when he asked if I wanted to see the kitchen.
Much narrower down these steps than it looks!
Never done it, so off we went down the narrow mesh steps to the basement where Tarik’s staff were hard at work.
There was the bread dough to make, shape and bake, and various lunch sandwiches and artisan pastries to create.
Making the dough!
There’s a machine to create the shape for a baguette before it goes into the oven!
Making sandwiches for the lunch crowd!
Yes, Les Petits Pains is also a patisserie, with sweets galore and savoury takeaways from small quiches to local Niçoise fare like Pissaladière, an olive and onion tart.
All hand made!
Pain Bagnat, the favourite sandwich of Nice below and various quiches. Perfect size for two people!
Tarik tells me that his family has been in the business for three generations, and originally from Algeria. They had a shop in Paris but missed the Mediterranean sun and sea and so moved to Nice. Both Tarik and Mounara studied at the Sorbonne where they met.
Tarik was so happy to show me around!
You probably know that the making of French bread is an art where all boulangeries are required to adhere to a rigid standard.
The French government instituted regulations in 1993 in what was known as “Le Décret Pain” (literally “The Bread Decree”).
The law ensures that traditional French baguettes must be made with specific ingredients and cannot contain any additives or preservatives.
Always a full shelf of breads!
About 1,200 bakers out of 33,000 like Les Petits Pains have signed up to the new “Boulanger de France” (French Baker) charter, committing to make all of their products on site (including pastries and cakes, where there is a trend to be too often frozen).
Gosh its wonderful to have a place that you can return to every day, where you know the staff, and start recognizing patrons who often offer a polite “bonjour” to all including those of us sitting the tables.
Making a personal connection is what it’s all about n’est-ce pas?
What about you? Do you have a favourite French bakery that you keep going back to? (Please leave your comment at the bottom of this blog!)
Plus — Everything you wanted to know about the French baguette is here in a previous blog! CLICK Here to Read it!
If you go– look for Les Petit Pains de Mediterranée in Vieux Nice (several blocks west of the main square)
at 41 rue de France, 06000 Nice France.
Special note: Tarik and Mounara could not have been more hospitable and gifted mon amour and me two glass capuccino cups with saucers.
I had looked everywhere to buy some and when I told Tarik he disappeared and came back with two wrapped carefully to bring home.
Thank you so much Tarik and Mounara.
See you again soon!
Glass capuccion cups and saucers
It’s this Friday!
Have you Registered Yet?
Next Paris Fan Club Broadcast!
Escape to OUR Château!
When?
This FRIDAY MAY 31st
12:30 pm ET/9:30 am Pacific
6;30 pm in Paris/5:30 pm in London
Sara and Stephen in front of the Château that captured their hearts.
In 2021, Sara and Stephen Cole sold their house in Southern Ontario and embarked on an adventure of a lifetime. They purchased a 6,500 square foot 11-bedroom château in southwest France with 37 acres of land and two outbuildings.
Quite a change for this couple whose careers included a position as a senior corporate executive, and as a marketing and graphic designer, respectively. However, their business skills would, in fact, come in handy as they organized themselves not only to prepare their château to live in themselves, but to also welcome guests, and to start of a creative new business called Manor and Maker.
(The Broadcast is Over Now but you can find it on Youtube at https://youtu.be/XDyG6cvcHKE)
Château de Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Dordogne
One of eleven bedrooms!
If you are fans of the story of Dick and Angela Strawbridge of the BBC series Escape to the Château, you will love hearing the Cole’s story and seeing their château up close and personal.
This program is OPEN to all my subscribers of this blog. You really don’t want to miss this!
Community Billboard!
Room to Let in Paris!
Rare Opportunity!
Yes, that is the Eiffel Tower in the distance to the left in this picture– it lights up at night!
View from the living room
That’s all for now!
Hope to See you on Friday!
And don’t forget to leave a comment
below where indicated!
Brought to you
by www.womanofacertainageinparis.com
Diana Bishop the founder of The Success Story Program and A Woman of a Certain Age in Paris as well as a well-known correspondent with over 25 years working for CTV, CBC News, and NBC News. She loves travel, writing, and all things Parisienne.
We have recently acquired a small boulangerie/patisserie, everything made by French bakers to French standards, where I live in Berlin with fantastic bread sorts, quiches etc. What an improvement!
Great article! Keep it up.
Thank you Diana
Catherine
I do have a French bakery/boulangerie in Larchmont NY. It’s just one of the things I love 💗 about living here. The delicious macarons and baguettes 🥖 are made by the American woman owner.
How fabulous Joanne!
I can almost taste those delicious looking baguettes! Love fresh bread (more than chocolate)!!!
A distinct pleasure to learn of all you are doing. I’m in Collingwood too, but my heart lives in Antibes.
Look forward to connecting with you Patrica!
I look forward to connecting with you in Collingwood.