I vaguely remember the first time I had real French food. I recall being left speechless after having my first spoonful of cassoulet, cooked by my friend. He explained to me how different it would taste if he were to use ingredients not authentically French. This very fact is the reason why a bakery located at the heart of Manila keeps receiving thumbs up's from both new and returning customers--they just wouldn't have it any other way!
During the latter parts of 2010, Paris Délice opened its doors to the public with great optimism, boasting of quality dishes and pastries that are sure to satisfy people who love French food as well those who are totally clueless about French cuisine. Located at the intersection of Makati Avenue and Juno street, the strikingly simplistic establishment stands in streak contrast to its immediate neighbors. I never had a chance to see it during daytime but the way I saw it that evening when I visited, I just had to release a happy sigh.
Right outside the bakeshop stands a miniature of the famous Eiffel Tower to greet guests and passersby. The facade was well lit and looked very inviting. The place was spacious inside, complete with comfortable couches and minimalistic elements adorning the whole store. There were also tables and chairs at the porch, perfect for customers who want to dine en plein air.
Once we got to the counter, we were greeted by Thibault and Florian, co-owners of Paris Délice. We were recommended to try their sandwiches as these are bestsellers of Paris Délice, thanks to meticulous ingredient preparation and particular baking procedures typically French.
Don't they just look lovely with those smiles on their faces? :)
The sandwiches had the trademark taste found in French bread made with only the best ingredients possible. When asked why their bread tasted so amazing, Florian released a smile and said, "It's because we use ingredients from France. I have papers to prove they're really from France!" He says they tried making bread employing the same French baking techniques using ingredients available in the Philippines but the resulting taste was not even close to how French bread is supposed to taste. I understood his point as I have tried making pan de sal before using ingredients available in China and the result was just so-so. "All our breads are freshly baked everyday. We bake five times each day to ensure our breads and pastries are fresh and of the right texture," says Florian.
Le Lillois. Chicken, bacon, mayonnaise, tomatoes, lettuce.
L'European. Forest ham, Emmental cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce.
Moments later, we were asked to try their pastries. Surprisingly, the croissant and le petit pain au chocolat that we tried were of the right softness even after sitting on the glassed shelves for half an hour already. The dark chocolate filling blended perfectly with the bread, making each bite an ensemble of yumminess!
L-R: Le petit pain au chocolat, and croissant
To finish our already wonderful night at Paris Délice, Thibault brought out samplers of their popular choquettes. Eating these delicious bite-sized treats by themselves is acceptable but wait till you pair them with Paris Délice's hot chocolate.
Les Choquettes
Here's a local product! The chocolate used for Paris Délice's hot chocolate is locally produced
I didn't try their salads and soups (they feature a different soup per week) but I will surely be back to try their quiches.
Though reluctant to call it a night, I had to leave Paris Délice with a full tummy, completely satisfied after eating authentic French food.
À la prochaine fois!
Miscellaneous shots
Man,
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have dinner with you someday!
Hahahaha! Cheers! :)
Sure. Sounds like a plan! Ask others to join us!
ReplyDelete