Bakery for Baguettes
Where is the best place to buy freshly-baked bread in Manhattan? I'm primarily interested in baguettes, but while I'm asking - please let me know what else is good!
Thanks so much!
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12 Comments:
Oh, good. I want to see the answers.
I lived in Paris and I just could never find similar baguettes in New York. There is something about the texture, and perhaps lack of salt, that makes American-made baguettes just not the same.
(Just came back from Montreal, by the way, and the baguettes there were GOOD!)
Having said that, I've settled on Balthazar's.
Looking forward to seeing what other people think.
Carioca at 1:51PM on 09/03/09
Blue Ribbon Bakery sells theirs at the Blue Ribbon Market. I also like Balthazar's. Maybe Sullivan Street Bakery?
kathryn at 3:44PM on 09/03/09
I'm interested also! I actually came on to post a similar question. I'm thinking of a picnic for dinner tomorrow in central park. If anyone knows of a good place to pick up food in midtown so I can head over to central park to enjoy the weather, please let me know!
terabithia at 4:07PM on 09/03/09
@ terabithia - i know this is kind of a boring answer to your question but whole foods is right on the corner of the park - you could pick up breads, meats, cheese, snacks and head on over!
@ carioca and kathryn, thanks for the suggestions above, i will definitely try out those three places...
anyone else have an opinion?
kristin314 at 4:33PM on 09/03/09
I'm not a fan of balthazar .. but I like an italian style loaf with good crust and fluffy insides ... and I like whole foods' baguette a lot. I like eli zabar's the best. I usually get the double, the single might be more 'french'.
Dean and Deluca has baguettes from several of the best bakeries in town. you can find a D&D convenient for you and sample a bunch over a few weeks (or days?). If you do, let us know what you find!
jigga at 11:41PM on 09/03/09
I'm also not a fan of Balthazar.
I actually like certain Le Pain Quotidien locations better for french baguettes. However, Sullivan Street has the best breads in general in NYC.
If you don't mind going uptown, Silver Moon Bakery on 105th and Broadway makes some really good baguettes-- I think it's worth the trip.
..but if we include Brooklyn, Almondine is my all time fave.
Wileen at 9:43AM on 09/04/09
@wileen - i love almondine! i don't know how i have never had the bread there, though. somehow i never thought to buy it - i'm usually there for breakfast (i repeatedly trek ALL THE WAY to brooklyn for their almond croissant, my favorite croissant of all time).
kristin314 at 11:20AM on 09/04/09
paris sandwich on mott between hester and canal has some fresh baked light crispy baguettes worth noting. ok bahn mi there too.
adorableannat at 11:23AM on 09/04/09
I've never had one from her actual store but in school when we learned baguettes, we used the recipe from Amy's Bread. I don't know if it was the smell of them baking or the sweet butter melting over the hot exterior as we snarfed them down as soon as they came out of the oven, but oh man! Thought I died and went to heaven.
meem21 at 11:54AM on 09/04/09
The Union Square Greenmarket pulls in some great bakeries - I usually buy whole grain loaves, but give Bread Alone or Our Daily Bread a try.
Otherwise, I second Grandaisy, Amy's Bread and Balthazar. Or come to Paris!
Sweet Freak at 11:21AM on 09/05/09
kristen, I love the croissants at Almondine! --the absolute best.
I repeatedly trek all the way to BK on weekends just to get my fix as well! you must try the bread and pick up a sandwich to go for lunch sometime. Harvey makes them with a variety of his breads. Delicious!
Wileen at 9:19AM on 09/06/09
There are so many good places to buy bread in NYC. Amy's, Le Pain, Sullivan Street Bakery. As noted, Almondine is amazing, but it means going to Brooklyn. I'm too lazy. Oh, Corrado Market in Grand Central Station is good also. I was a huge fan of Ecce Panis, but they closed up shop a while ago and their bread that you can get at FE and Gristedes is a pale comparison, though I guess it is probably the best supermarket baguette you'll find.
chisai at 10:14AM on 09/06/09