Mike and I recently returned from our vacation in Europe, where we spent the last few days in the beautiful (and rainy) city of lights --- Paris! On the first day of our trip, we wandered around the streets of St. Germain, and stopped off at this very inviting corner bakery/cafe. As soon as I stepped in, a huge wave of familiarity hit me like the wave that turned over that poor little boat in The Perfect Storm. I realized it was the same bakery I went to on the first day of my first ever trip to Paris five years ago... I had stepped into Paul's. What are the chances that I would unintentionally wander in the same place on the first day of the only two trips I ever took to Paris??

Paul's is a magnificent bakery filled with the most delicate croissants, the most delectable viennoise pastries and the flakiest pain du chocolats! The tarts are impossible to choose from as they all look so enticingly appealing. And the long line of French patrons out the door confirmed that Paul's indeed had some of the very best baguettes and brioche that Paris has to offer. What a baker's dream!!!

At Paul's, we enjoyed some egg crepes for our petit dejeuner, with a rich cup of cafe creme. (Why does the coffee in Europe taste so much better than ours??) Topped off, with a slice of pear custard tart for me and a slice of blueberry tart for Mike. Would it be too corny to say Oooh la la??!?

Unfortunately, I was only able to sneak in a couple photos inside the bakery, as the lady cashier with the peppermint striped apron shooed me off with a windshield wiper index finger, going "Nooo!" With the lens cap back onto my Nikon D200 and a frown that had yet to be turned upside down, all I could think of was to find a kinder bakery that would allow me to take pictures --- photos of quintessentially French pastries!

Hmmmm....who would be so kind????