Le Grenier à Pain (Bakery) - Paris

Le Grenier à Pain is a bakery shop with many chain stores in France. It has won the award for best Baguette 2010 and 2015. I visited the outlet at Abbesses and when I was there at 730am, locals were coming in continuously to get there breakfast here.

The usual Parisian pastries and breads stacked up on the shelves: croissants, pain au chocolate, madeleine...all reasonably priced.

Pistachio Madeleine - Nice buttery taste, but lack of pistachio flavour.

Croissant

Pain Au Chocolate

Verdict: 3.5/5

All the items that we tried were not bad but nothing too outstanding. 

Cost: 1-5€

Address: 38 rue Abbesses, 75018 Paris

Transport: Abbessess station

Opening Hours:  730-2000

PARIS - What to DO, EAT AND ENJOY!!

Du Pain Et Des Idess (Bakery)- Paris

Du Pain Et Des Idess is a famous bakery in Paris which is very popular among the locals and tourists. This bakery open its door as early as 645 am and I would advice you to arrive early for these freshly bakes. It is a takeaway bakery shop, but there is a small wooden table and bench right outside the shop where you can sit down and enjoy your pastry. I was welcomed with very fragrant and sweet aroma of the bread and pastries as I stepped into the shop.

They offer a wide range of traditional bread and pastries from croissant to pain au chocolate, apple tarts...

Every pastry displayed on the shelves looks nice and appealing isn't it?

 Escargot Chocolat Pistache (2.80€) - This is their signature item which gets sold out very quickly. Thick layers of pistachio cream and bits of chocolate are sandwiched between the swirls. The crispy and buttery outer layer combines very well with its generous fillings and I enjoyed this totally right till the end.

Pain Chocolat Banana (3.60€) - Not often you would find banana fillings in your pain au chocolat. It is a good mixture with this flaky pastry. However, it would be even better if they are more generous with the portion of chocolate and banana fillings.

Sacristain (2.50€) - I do know what this twisted pastry is made up of but there is traces of yellow custard in between the twists. In fact, this the best item among those that we tried, and we find that it is even more tasteful than their signature Escargot pistachio.

Cranberry cream cheese Escargot (3.60€) - filled with thick layers of cream cheese and cranberries bits. It has a sourly taste which is not too appealing to me. Probably would be more tasteful for the ladies tastebud.

I enjoyed every item that I had bought and they still taste as good when I eat it again in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, the pastries were not warm even when I eat it immediately upon purchase at 730am. 

Verdict: 4/5

Cost: 1-5€

Address: 34 Rue Yves Toudic, 75010 Paris

            Transport: Jacques Bonsergent station (line 5)

Opening Hours: Mon to Fri, 0645 – 2000

 http://dupainetdesidees.com/

PARIS - What to DO, EAT AND ENJOY!!!

Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory - Johor Bahru Malaysia

Decided to try this traditional old school bakery after hearing so much about them. Alot of bloggers had blogged on them so i would not go into further details. Yes, they baked their buns and cakes using firewood in traditional method. Even making of the dough is handmade instead of machinary.

When we reached there about 4pm, the buns are already sold out. Their coconut buns are supposed to be one of their popular item but unfortunately we arrived too late. We were told the buns were usually sold out by 11am. The good news is, you can still join the queue for their signature banana cakes. The cakes were baked by batches and were quickly sold out once they are out from the oven. Hence you will need to wait about 10mins for the next batch.

Large (10 pieces) - RM9.60

Small (5 pieces) - RM 4.80

Verdict: 3.5 / 5

 

I had a slice of the banana cake that is straight out from the oven and its texture is very moist and does not taste overly sweet. Very crispy outer brown layer as well. I end up finishing the small box of banana cakes and queued to purchase another box again. However when I eat it again on the next day, the cake become too dry for my throat. Overall, I recommend you to eat the banana cake immediately upon purchase.

Address: 13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, 80000 Johor Bahru

Hours: Mon - Sat 7:00am to 6:00pm

Sunday 9:00am to 1:00pm

3 Petits Croissants

A French Artisan Bakery selling French artisan croissants

Quite a spacious seating arrangement and you get to the baking in action while enjoying your croissants and coffee

Pain Au Chocolate ($2.90) - Flaky outer skin and fluffy texture. You can find bits of chocolate filling. Right amount of sweetness from the chocolate to match the croissant. Recommended!!

Matchazuki Croissant ($3.90) - Premium green tea flavoured croissant filled with sweet red bean paste. The sweetness from its filling covered the green tea taste. What a left down, but if you like sweet stuff, this is recommended 

Plain croissant @ $1 only. Nice fluffy and buttery taste. Flaky outer skin

Mocha ($4.80) 

Opening Hours:

Mon - Sat: 08:00–22:00

Sun: 10:00–18:00

1 Zubir Said Drive, #01-01/02

Singapore 227968

Verdict: 3/ 5

I will rate them high on the tasting portion, other than that, service is not up to par and croissant are cold even after warming them in the oven twice upon request. The staffs half-hardheartedly prepare and serve the food for self collection. 

Will not come back again for such bad service.