Bread & Roses in Paris

Don’t let the sleepy terrace fool you! Bread & Roses is one of the most highly sought after restaurants in the prestigious 8th arrondissement. Come lunch time, this little café will be packed solid, full of French hommes d’affaire (businessmen) dressed in their expensive suits and shined shoes. Good luck getting a table! Even the empty ones don a little white slip of paper with Reservé elegantly scrawled across.

Not to worry, most tourists and expats come here for breakfast or afternoon tea in search of one thing: the scone. Tell me Parisians don’t do scones and I’ll suddenly have a passion for finding the best Paris can offer. It’s not unique to Paris, I do the same with pretty much anything that comes with an adamant, faultfully opinionated naysayer. I had never even craved a scone while in Paris. Never realized they were lacking. They aren’t even a favorite back home. But one day I saw them on the menu of a salon de thé and I was hooked. Scones. Scones in Paris. Must find Scones in Paris. So off I went…

And I didn’t only find great scones. I discovered an amazing bakery with an overwhelming array of new and familiar treats: a selection of specialty loafs, glazed breads (including lemon and green tea), mini cakes and tarts perfect for two, as well as muffins and a selection of typical Parisian viennoiseries. Where to begin? Well, since I was here for scones in the first place, I suppose the millefeuille aux framboises et à la vanille de Tahiti could wait for another visit.

So I sat down outside in the cool morning air and ordered my first scone in Paris along with a café crème.

Accompaniments included a disk of le beurre doux echiré (rich butter), strawberry jam and slightly sweetened whipped cream.

Heaven!! Angels were even tempted to suddenly appear and steal a bite! And if you thought Bread & Roses had me with only the scone, think again! The café crème with its dense layer of rich foam was by far one of the best I’ve ever had in Paris! This is saying a lot in case you don’t know about my passion for the art of espresso (and yes, it’s an art). As for the scone, I loved it! The pastry was moist and buttery melting in your mouth. I thought it odd it was a grape scone, but it was still a fabulous creation that leaves me convinced you can enjoy a great scone in Paris.

Les hommes d’affaire enjoying an early meeting at Bread & Roses.

Since then, I’ve made it back to Bread & Roses on numerous occasions even dragging a French friend along who loved it! Manifique, trop bon and exceptionel were among the adjectives she used to describe her lunch (and later that same day, her dinner). One of my favorite visits was a picnic along the Avenue Champs Elysée facing the ornate Place de la Concorde. Luckily even if Bread & Roses is packed, you can still enjoy their food! Amid the trees baring early signs of Fall, I found an empty bench to feast upon my special picnic lunch.

I wasn’t the only enjoying the few warm, sunny days we have left!

The multi-grain roll of my chicken salad sandwich was perfect! Unlike baguette sandwiches that are tough and chewy, this was fluffy with a little crunch from the grains crusting the top. And for some greens, I love nothing more than some taboulé libanais though I thought it could have used a little bit more dressing. In addition, Bread & Roses offers fresh quiches, baguette sandwiches, traditional sandwiches, among other things, not to forget a varied selection of sides. Oh, and did I mention the desserts? You’ll find everything you need here for a delightful picnic at Tuileries.

I recently returned yet again… I couldn’t resist the thought of their café crème on a morning promising rain. I was so afraid I’d be disappointed; perhaps my first one was a rare fluke that I should have had preserved in a museum of some sort. But luckily, it was better than I remembered. And as for this little British café’s take on the pain au chocolat? Pas mal non plus.

One of these days my will is going to break and I’ll finally try their cheesecake… Perhaps you’ll beat me to it?

Bread & Roses – Lunch Reservations Recommended
62 Rue Madame, 6th
Metro: Rennes

25, rue Boissy d’Anglais, 8th
Metro: Madeleine

Tagged as: Paris, Restaurant Review