France is known for being a country where people love bread. Of course, Parisians don't walk with a baguette under their arms, as it is often seen in pictures or cartoons. But I have to admit that our love for bread is not a cliché: just look at the number of bakeries the city counts! More than 550!
In France, there is a big difference between two kinds of shops Americans call "bakery" : boulangerie and pâtisserie.
A boulangerie is a shop where you can mainly buy bread. Baguette is the most famous: a traditional baguette is 5 to 6 cm large, 4 cm high and 65 cm long. The price is approximatively 0,85 euros. Of course, beside the traditionnal baguette, bakers created dozens of different bread, with different flours, cereals or tastes (olives, garlic, fig, cheese...). Just go to a boulangerie et try them ! In a boulangerie, you can also buy what we call "viennoiseries": they are made with similar techniques as bread. There are many, but the most famous are croissants (of course), pains au chocolat, pain au raisins (with grapes), chaussons aux pommes (puff pastry filled with apple compote) and chouquettes (you definitively have to try them: just amazing... And so romantic when shared with the one you love...).
Beside boulangeries, pâtisseries are dedicated to cakes: that is where you can buy individual or to be shared pastries. Eclairs au chocolat, macarons, fruits pies, opéras, lemon or chocolate pies, mille-feuilles... The choice is huge and you are sure to find a sweet dessert you would die for !!!
Even though some pâtisseries exclusively sell cakes, some also sell breads: they are called "boulangerie-pâtisserie".
So, if you want to live like a Parisian, don't forget to go and buy your daily baguette at the corner boulangerie. Yes, everyday, we have to "aller chercher le pain".
And don't forget: when you go to a restaurant, bread is given for free :)
Selection of shops:
Poilâne: several shops in Paris and London. The Miche POilâne is amazing with bread, cheese and even Nutella! Or cooked as an appetizer (with olive oil, jam and vegetables).
Sébastien Mauvieux: winner of the Price of the Best Baguette in Paris 2012 (yes, there is a special award every year: the winner will be the official baker for the French President and his guests for a year!). 159, rue Orderener (18th distict).
Lenôtre: very posh and a bit expensive, but you have to try the Opéra (the cake created by this baker) and their "tarte au citron meringuée" (lemon pie with meringue) is just amazing.