Almondine Bakery

Le Fraisier Classique, watercolor, 9" x 11"

On Saturday I just discovered Almondine Bakery in Dumbo on Water Street - a patisserie loaded with Frenchness...

They even have an ardoise/big blackboard and write out the specials by hand...

And homey made lemonade perfect for a summer day...

When you buy a croissant or other vienoisserie, you get a REAL French boulangerie paper bag straight from France! That's a first.

You can buy Chef Herve Poussot's macarons just one at a time freshly made rather than pre-packaged...

Of course Almondine has many classic French desserts...

Like the very Summery Fraisier...

The French version of our strawberry shortcake...

Parisian chef Gerard Mulot's fraisier with a checkered 'Vichy' topping...

A rather grand Fraisier a la Dacha at Cafe Pouchkine in Printemps...

The Japanese adore le Fraisier - they add to the mix a delicate touch of Matcha green tea...

Munch..munch

miam...miam

Why not watch my favorite General I mean chef from L'atelier des Chefs show you how to faire un fraisier?

BONJOUR ALMONDINE BAKERY!!

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'Little Paris'

Who knew?

Piles of Frenchie croissants right in South Kensington SW3

a 'Little Paris' in London. Bute Street off the Brompton road is full of Frenchie cafes, charcuteries, boucheries, papeteries, French book stores...oh an Italian gelaterie...
You'll hear lots of French spoken and see French kiddies with their au pairs, mainly because the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle is nearby... You think you're in London. You took the Eurostar from Paris.
But in fact you're in 'Little Paris' - well that's what I call it...

Clafoutis at PAUL, contact, 9" x 11"

There's a PAUL cafe just outside South Ken' Station where Frenchies and wannabe Frenchies grab a croissant and a demi...

Bute Street on Saturdays becomes a weekly marche loaded with French goodies..

Coq au vin...boef with vin rouge...you name it

True, the Frenchies will break down and don their English wellies if it's raining...

On the week-end they head to cafe Aubaine further down at 260 -262 Brompton Road for 'le brunch' If you are not dressed appropriately "Frenchie' forget about going...

Bien sur there are menu ardoise/blackboards with stacks of baguettes...

And bien sur there are MACARONS!! After all...

I had chocolat chaud, a croissant and multi-pots of very British jam. Was there a choice?

BONJOUR LITTLE PARIS!