An Ode To The Almighty Baguette, And Where To Get It In August

I won't try to give you a comprehensive list of the best baguettes of Paris, because wiser foodie sites than mine have already done it. But I will say that this is the cheapest thrill possible, maybe in all of life. There is nothing like the French baguette.

Maybe it's the water; maybe it's the temperature or humidity index of Paris; maybe it's a certain je ne sais quoi that makes the French baguette (that means IN France, not acceptable anywhere else) is so far superior to any other bread that it has pretty much ruined me for life. White Whine!

Ideally, the perfect baguette should be crispy on the outside, dense and chewy on the inside. It should not be overly cooked or crispy. It should not be dry. It should not cost you more than 1,10€. For a long time I thought the regular "baguette" ordered at a boulangerie was phenomenal. I didn't think it could get any better. The regular baguette, while delicious, should never cost more than 1€. As a cheapskate, I hesitated for far too long to try the tradition, which is what the "Meillure Baguette de Paris" is based on, since it is an entire 10-15 centimes more expensive (so maybe I have a problem). But it turns out that the meillure baguette of 2012 is not only in my arrondissement, but ONE BLOCK from my apartment, at Boulangerie Mauvieux. I started ordering the tradition, which is thicker, moister, and somehow several notches more flavorful than the regular baguette, which I never though possible until I tried it. It is the best extra 10 cents I've ever spent.

The finest things to put on a baguette:

- foie gras
- carpaccio de boeuf
- comté cheese AND butter (trust me)
- camembert
- blueberry jam

But really the possibilities are endless. Many boulangeries are closed in August, but luckily I found this great list of open shops via Out and About in Paris. Bon appetit!

Boulangerie Mauvieux
159 Rue Ordener, 75018 Paris
Métro: M12 to Jules Joffrin