Le Boulangerie de la Tour

When we lived in the BYU apartment near the Eiffel Tower, we had our favorite boulangerie on our block, which we called the White Bakery.  When we came to Paris this time, we weren't sure we could find a boulangerie in our new neighborhood that could compare in quality and friendliness.  But we did.  In fact, the day we arrived, we asked the clerk in the grocery store where to find a boulangerie and he sent us to Le Boulangerie de la Tour about a block from our apartment on the Quai Tournelle by the bridge to Île Saint Louis.

Boulangerie de la Tour

It took us a week or two to realize that across the street from the boulangerie was the famous Paris restaurant, La Tour d'Argent.  La Tour d'Argent is over 400 years old and used to have three Michelin stars--it currently has one star.  It began as a cheap boarding house with a restaurant in 1582 but became chic in the following centuries. Its signature dish is a pressed duck.  Dinner here would set you back about 350 euros.  So although we could not afford the restaurant, we could afford to go to its boulangerie every day.  Gusteau's restaurant in Ratatouille was based on La Tour d'Argent.



La Tour d'Argent is on the Top Floors




View from La Tour d'Argent Restaurant

Entrance to La Tour d'Argent

"Official Furnisher of La Tour d'Argent"

Metal Sign for the Boulangerie de la Tour

A dog waits patiently at the
entrance to la Boulangerie de la Tour

The baguettes at the Boulangerie de la Tour are the best.  It is a "tradition" type baguette with pointy ends.  I love those crispy ends.  The baguette is so flavorful and full of holes.  Baguette sandwiches have been a staple for us this trip with bleu cheese, tomatoes and lettuce from the Marché Monge.


Pointy Baguette and a
Chocolate Almond Croissant



Baguette Sandwich and Orangina

I love watching the bakers through the window working in back of the boulangerie.  There are huge bags of different types of flour lined up along the ledge.


Flour in the back room



Huge Mixer

Everyone in the boulangerie is so friendly.  They recognize us since we are there every day.  The bakers even come out from the back to help during busy times and are always smiling.  They make us feel part of the quartier.


Inside the Boulangerie



Pâtisserie Window

Pâtisserie Window

We have many favorite things at the boulangerie.  Of course their croissants and pain au chocolat are flaky and delicious.  We love the chausson aux pommes and pain Suisse.  Our favorite pâtisseries are the lemon tart with meringue, Paris Brest with hazelnut cream, palmier, and mi-cuit chocolate cake.  They have good quiches and warm them up in their oven for you.  And I love their orange packaging--the ducks with baguettes under their wings on either side of the tower.


Paris Brest and Tarte Citron



Paris Brest Packaging



Chausson aux Pommes and Paris Brest



Palmier



Packaging for Pâtisseries



Tarte au Citron

I stopped at the boulangerie this afternoon during a rare moment when it was quiet inside.  The women asked how I was doing and commented on what a beautiful day it was today.  I told them we would be going home on Monday and how we would miss Paris and the boulangerie.  We talked about how we had been here for four months while Kelly worked on writing his book and we were so sad to leave.  One of the women said she was sure we would be back soon.  And she is right.  We can't stay away from Paris too long.