Paris Pastry

Rarely does it get cold enough here in Los Angeles to warrant putting on warm boots and scarves, but this week we will get to use our umbrellas, cold weather clothes, and heaters. The cold, gray, and rainy weather right now makes me homesick for Paris in the Winter, and one of my favorite things to do in these kind of times is to get a steaming cup of hot chocolate and savor a flaky buttery croissant.

These days there are a few places that offer very nice croissants all over the city, from the ubiquitous Pain Quotidien cafe to the ones at the Urth Cafe. But when nothing but the best will do, it is time to head over to Paris Pastry. There is a reason why they are the supplier of choice for breakfast menus at the many high end restaurants around town. Their croissants are delicate, flaky, rich, and light, all at the same time. One or two will definitely do for one person. Good things should be shared, so you might want to invite your friends to a very luxurious breakfast party with choices from the bakery case which include brioche buns, pain aux raisins, and of course pain au chocolat.

The most difficult part of breakfast will be deciding when it is time to actually go back out into the rain to start the day; who says breakfast can't last all day?