Sit-down Saturday

 Summer in Paris, a time to kick back and find a spot in one of the city's many lush parks.

 

 

 

Floral Friday

 

From the enchanting medieval garden of the Musée de Cluny, a former abbey (10th century A.D.) in the heart of the Latin Quarter.

 

 

Wednesday whimsy

The wonderful electromania of

 

Gilbert Peyre

Halle Saint-Pierre

bookstore / coffee shop / museum / gallery 

2 rue Ronsard 75018

 

Ends soon

July 31, 2025

 

 

Mocha Monday

 

 

Coffee and tea at a terrace table on the Left Bank.

 

Size matters Sunday

 

A good croissant will always land butter-side down.

Above: viennoiseries (croissants au beurre and raspberry croissants) at Bo&Mie

***

Is it me or has there been a quiet evolution in the size of Paris croissants post-Covid?


Until 2021, croissants, especially from renowned bakeries like Laurent Duchêne and Des Gâteaux et du Pain, had been described as light, airy, even “dainty,” aligning with the traditional style that focused on layers of flakiness and a delicate balance between butter and dough.

Since a 1993 decree requiring butter croissants (croissants au beurre) to be straight, the only other contender was the cheaper crescent-shaped croissant normal that humbly took its place next to straight croissants on boulangerie shelves, hinting at margarine use.

But post 2021, particularly after the Covid lockdowns, a shape-shifting seems to have taken place: a trend toward "generous" croissants. Bakeries like Cédric Grolet, known for plump creations, gained prominence. Larger, richer croissants using more butter and dough began to appear, some suggesting to attract those in search of indulgence after lockdown austerity. And, as customers lined up, other bakers followed suit.

The 2025 Concours du Meilleur Croissant au Beurre results, with Basile Fourmont’s voluptuous winner, suggest a preference for fuller shapes, possibly up to 30% larger than their slimmer predecessors.

For some, to witness something so basic to French culture being turned into an inflated pod is disconcerting. For others, it’s a welcome novelty. Only time will tell if puffier versions are here to stay, and if body shapes will follow. - BPJ

Sit-down Saturday

Bring a coffee, a book, and grab a chair. 

Palais-Royal Gardens

(click to enlarge)

Floral Friday

 Flowers, a staple at open-air markets throughout the city.

 ***

 Next newsletter:

A June Jaunt

 

 3 hours (or less) from Paris

 

Where to stay

Where to eat

What to see