The Missus and I were planning a trip….well, this one is basically four trips out, and we started ruminating about croissants…..do we miss Paris, and even there, it can be hard to find a good croissant….to be honest, we've had our share of not so good croissants (au buerre) in Paris as well. The discussion reminded me that I had a couple croissant photos just waiting for a post. I guess today's the day. So, "allons y"…..
The French Oven:
Several folks in the office, who live in the Scripps Ranch area kept on telling me about The French Oven, telling me it's run by a fifth generation Boulanger from France. So, a few weekends later, I headed on over to a little strip mall in Scripps Ranch.
Man the place was hopping!
Service was fast, I believe the owner was working the front of house as he and another gentleman were speaking in French. It kinda made my morning.
As for the croissant, while it was the best of the three in post, well, it was okay…..light with a decent flakey-crispness, but really lacking in butteriness, and when broken lacked that hint of yeastiness we love.
Not bad.
You can read Cathy's post on The French Oven here.
The French Oven Bakery
10299 Scripps Trail Suite E
San Diego, CA 92131
Bread Bar (at the Little Italy Mercato):
The following week, I dropped by the Little Italy Mercato to do some shopping. And decided to pick up a couple of croissants for the Missus and I to try. First, was from Bread Bar.
This was more crumbly than flakey and crisp. It had enough salt, but lacked a good buttery flavor and was too dry. It also had that fishiness that pastries in the states sometimes have, usually from the eggs used, which both the Missus and I don't care for.
Bread Bar in the Little Italy Mercato.
Prager Brothers (at the Little Italy Mercato):
We enjoy the bread from Prager Brothers and should probably head up to their bakery in Carlsbad. But until then…..
The croissant was not bad; but lacking in enough butteriness, salt, and yeastiness to us. The texture of the interior was a bit too soft for us.
We'll stick to getting their wonderful breads.
Prager Brothers at the Little Italy Mercato.
So….the search goes on…..