french pastries – Jellybeans in the City

Yummy baked goodies from The French Baker

I can barely remember a time when The French Baker was not around.

Since the early 90’s, it has been making affordable, premium-quality and freshly baked European-style breads available to more Filipinos, thereby broadening our food horizons beyond the neighborhood panaderia.

The French Baker was born out of founder Johnlu Koa’s desire to bring his Paris experience back to the Philippines in the form of French breads and pastries. Since then, the bakery-slash-restaurant has been churning out baguettes, croissants, sourdoughs and tarts alongside local bakery treats such as pan de sal and ensaimada, and cafe fare like soups, salads, pizzas and pastas.

If it weren’t for The French Baker, I might not have developed such a deep appreciation for the art of bread and pastry-making, and my family also would not be enjoying our favorite baked goods so easily.

These include:

Apple Crumble Danish (Php105). Layered and glazed pastry topped with cinnamon-infused apple streusel. While I usually gravitate towards The French Baker’s Blueberry and Peach Danishes, this is a welcome addition to my faves.

Choco Walnut Danish (Php105). Another variation of the delightful Danish pastries, this time with a chocolate cream filling topped by crunchy chopped walnuts.

Blueberry Muffin (Php72). A buttery quick bread with sweet and tangy blueberries mixed in. This is great for a fuss-free dessert after a meal, or a sweet snack.

Butter Croissant (Php73). A crescent-shaped viennoiserie made by layering the dough with butter, rolling it out and folding it several times resulting in a flaky textured roll with the same airy texture as a puff pastry. This goes so well with butter and coffee as a breakfast treat, and is my daughter’s favorite pastry.

Almond Croissant (Php115). A tasty expansion to The French Baker’s croissant possibilities, thanks to the addition of toasted and sweetened almond slices.

Beef Turnover (Php118). The French version of the empanada, this consists of savory ground beef filling encased in the flaky pastry dough. This is my husband’s go-to quick eats, whether for his coffee break or midnight snack.

What I love most about these baked goodies from The French Baker is that my family and I can enjoy them at home!

Whether with our coffee or hot chocolate in the morning, a sweet way to cap our lunch or dinner or as a delicious snack in between meals, these yummy pastries are always within easy reach.

You too can stock up on your favorite European-style baked goods from The French Baker by dropping by the outlet nearest you and ordering them for takeout. With over 50 branches nationwide, this shouldn’t be too hard. 🙂

You can also order for delivery from its website or via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

PAUL Boulangerie et Pattiserie, SM Mega Fashion Hall

I had to accompany my daughter #ExhibitA as she got her booster shot last Sunday, and I thought “Why not make an outing of it?”

Given my work schedule and her classes, we hardly get any opportunity for some mother-daughter bonding.

So we took the opportunity to have brunch at PAUL Boulangerie et Pattiserie at SM Mega Fashion Hall.

This cafe is a spot of understated luxury inside a busy mall. Here, handmade bread are freshly baked throughout the day as has been done in various PAUL bakeries for over 120 years.

The cafe also offers menu items that combines the pleasures of eating with well-being. These dishes are characterized by authenticity, the use of natural ingredients and being attentive to the need for a balanced diet. These include:

Croque Salmon (Php420). Smoked salmon, cream and ementhal cheese enveloped in soft butter-toasted pain de mie and served with crisp greens drizzled with a tangy-sweet vinaigrette.

Pesto & Cream Pasta (Php295). Al dente fusili tossed in basil pesto cream sauce and garnished with sundried tomatoes, parmesan cheese and bread stick.

Creme Brulee (Php175). Rich and creamy vanilla flavored custard topped with caramelized sugar.

Drinks. Freshly steeped Earl Grey Tea (Php115) and Salted Caramel Flavored Latte (Php215).

A lovely meal and a relaxing atmosphere made for an enjoyable time!

This PAUL Boulangerie et Pattiserie branch is located at Ground Floor Al Fresco 1, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City. For inquiries, call +63 995 2525279.

To know more about its products and offers, visit PAUL’s website or follow it on Facebook or Instagram.

A French cafe experience at PAUL le cafe

France has a delicious history with coffee dating back to 17th century when cafes started opening up, offering not just coffee but also a feeling of community. Cafes encouraged the practice of slowing down, lingering and connecting with one’s neighbors and peers; they became focal points for conversation, artistic expression, and, at some point, even revolutionary sentiments.

With the opening of its first Philippine store in Greenbelt 5 in Makati, PAUL le cafe brings the French cafe experience center stage, much to the delight of coffee lovers in the metro.

PAUL le cafe also incorporates classic coffee colors as well as black, the emblematic hue of the original family-owned PAUL bakeries in France, and terra-cotta red, the color of coffee cherries.

Its clean and modern look was developed with the help of interior and set designer Emilie Bonaventure. Its spectacular lighting, gleaming coffee machine and welcoming colors are accented by artfully placed photographs, all set against the PAUL trademark black and white flooring.

In this stylish setting, coffee lovers can enjoy their favorite beverage expertly crafted by PAUL’s baristas, using 100% Arabica coffee sourced from sustainable Rain Forest Alliance producers.

The store also offers and expanded menu of hot coffee drinks that include classics such as espresso, latte and Americano, to gourmet recipes such as flat white, cappuccino, cafe Viennois and mochas, even vegan options made with almond or oat milk.

To cool down on a hot day (which we have a lot of in this country), customers can also opt for iced versions of their coffee favorites.

The store also offers non-coffee beverages such as hot and iced teas, freshly squeezed juices and smoothies.

Customers can also get a taste of the PAUL macaron frappe – a concoction made of milk, cream and a French macaron – blended together with ice, resulting to a sweet and brightly colored drink.

These drinks are best enjoyed with something delicious to nibble on. Luckily, savory lunch items such as freshly prepared sandwiches and salads, quiches and pizzas are on offer.

However, the highlight for a sweet tooth like me has got to be the pattiserie – a collection of French pastries and cakes that appeal to the eyes and tastebuds of every dessert lover.

Among the macarons, fruit tartlets, Napoleons, and more on display, all manner of sweet cravings can be sated.

At PAUL le cafe, coffee lovers can bask in the elegantly relaxed atmosphere of a French cafe while enjoying premium drinks and high quality pastries.

It is a place to relax, unwind and take a precious moment, whether to catch up with friends or enjoy one’s solitude in comfort.

Drop by PAUL le cafe at Ground Floor, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City and say “Bonjour” to a posh yet relaxing coffee shop a la francaise experience.

For more details on its offers, follow PAUL Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.

Disclosure: I attended the Grand Opening of this restaurant where food and drink were served for honest feedback.