When you crave a bit of European culture and need a little “Je ne sais quoi” to feed the inner Francophile, break out your beret and can-can over to one of several local bakeries representing our French friends in the Greater Palm Springs area.
Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Café
French born owner of Clementine, Christophe Douheret, was originally born in Cannes, France. His wife and co-owner, Jennifer, opened Clementine in 2010 as boulangerie/patisserie and moved to their current location in Palm Desert (just off the main retail strip on El Paseo) to expand to a full-service gourmet café and retail shop featuring French and Mediterranean-inspired offerings.
They sell breads but are known for their pastries, prepared by a pastry chef using three classic French pastries (short, puff and pate a choux). The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers a series of special dinners on a monthly basis with themed menus.
photo courtesy of Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Café
Apple and Pear Puff Pastry Tarts are classically prepared with glazed fruit layered on a base of French Patisserie Cream.
The pastry case rotates but some stand-out standbys include a variety of tartlets, fruit cakes, and gallettes, filled croissants, cream puffs, and eclairs. Christophe’s special family recipes are shared with appreciative customers when they order the Bread Pudding or Quiche Lorraine.
photo courtesy of Clementine Gourmet Marketplace & Café
If chocolate is a must to satisfy your sweet spot, the Chocolate Ganache Tartlet is up to the task. Decadent and ogle-worthy.
Clementime Gourmet Marketplace & Café, 72990 El Paseo, Ste. 3, Palm Desert, 760-834-8814; www.clementineshop.com
Peninsula Pastries
photo by lori cohen-sanford
Co-owner, Helene Meyer, opened Peninsula Pastries in Palm Springs at the end of October, 2014 with husband and pastry chef/baker, Christophe.
Hailing from Paris, owners Helene and Christophe Meyer moved to Palm Springs in May 2014 to start a new venture and open their first business, Peninsula Pastries.
Open for less than six months, the bakery has already won a loyal following to their location in Sun Center in Palm Springs. While they bake everything from scratch, including a variety of French breads, the items that fly off the shelves the quickest are their tres French, tres flaky, tres authentic croissants.
photo by lori cohen-sanford
Sprinkled in powdered sugar and smelling like Paris-personified, these buttery, squishy, almond paste-filled concoctions will have you jonesing upon waking. Get in line!
With a cup of freshly brewed French coffee to pair with one of the many sweet options, you can close your eyes and sniff the smells of a corner boulangerie in Paris. For a fun play on a traditional pastry called a “Swiss” in France, try a Chocolate Tongue. Your own is sure to lick your lips.
photo by lori cohen-sanford
Take pause to gawk at the pure perfection of the pastries before choosing. As an added bonus, you can practice your French with owner Helene.
Peninsula Pastries, 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Ste. 1, Palm Springs, 760-832-6486.
L’Atelier Café
photo courtesy of L’Atelier Café
Fresh baked breads from L’Atelier are the secret to experiencing a taste of Paris in the desert, like this classic sandwich, the Croque Madame.
If you have ever stopped into the little bistro-style café in the historic La Plaza area of downtown Palm Springs, L’Atelier Café, you will know you are experiencing a little bit of Paris.
Co-owner Raphael Farsy decided to bring his Pastry Chef skills honed in Paris to Palm Springs when he and wife, Charlotte, visited in 2012 while on their honeymoon.
The couple continues to delight customers with an ever-changing menu of French Bistro-inspired fare for breakfast and lunch, including a variety of breads, croissants, fluffy quiches, tarts, crepes, and pastries.
photo courtesy of L’Atelier Café
A variety of fresh French croissants are available to take away or enjoy in a variety of menu options on the breakfast and lunch menu each day at L’Atelier.
L’Atelier Café, 29 La Plaza, Palm Springs, 760-778-7895; www.latelier-cafe.com
L’Artisan Valley Baking Co.
Photo Courtesy of L’Artisan
L’Artisan is a locally owned wholesale supplier of European breads and morning pastries to more than 70 restaurants throughout the valley.
If you have enjoyed a flaky croissant, pain au chocolate, French sourdough (Levain) at a restaurant or coffee shop around town, there is a good likelihood that L’Artisan Valley Baking Co. based in Thousand Palms baked it.
Open since 2003 by owners Fred and Severine Estrada, this bakery has been baking French and Italian style breads using natural ingredients. If you aren’t enjoying them at local restaurants, you can find them direct at the local Certified Farmer’s Markets in all three locations throughout the valley each week.
You can also pick up French baguettes, Levain loaves and brioches from L’Artisan at Whole Foods Market in Palm Desert.
Photo Courtesy of L’Artisan
Whole Foods Market in Palm Desert carries locally baked breads from L’Artisan in the deli and bakery sections. Bon Apetit!
L’Artisan Valley Baking Co., 31130 Plantation Drive, Thousand Palms, 760-343-2888; www.lartisanvbc.com
Lori Cohen-Sanford is a private/personal chef, cooking class instructor and owner of Nourishfoods Organic Meal Services www.nourishfoods.biz. Her food column, Tastes Around Town, will appear weekly on Wednesdays. Have a story idea? You can contact Lori at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @nourishfoodsps.
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