Those of you who live in France and love French bread made specifically in Paris what do you think of this list of great bakeries made by an American who ranks and rates French bread makers in Paris. (Steven Kaplan author of 9 books about French Bread and professor emeritus).

1. Franck Debieu
2. Frederic Pichard 88 rue Cambrone 75015
3. Dominic Saibron 77 ave th General Leclerc 75014
4. Christophe Vasseur 34 rue Yves Toudic 75010
5. Raoul Maeder 158 Blvd Berthier 75017
6. Jean-Paul Mathon 86 ave Gambetta 75022
7. Anis Bouabsa 32 rue Tristian Tzara 75020
8. Arnaud Delmontel 39 rue des Martyrs 75009

Not in any specific order of goodness.

How would most French know - I don't think they traipse around to boulangeries but buy fresh pain from their neighborhood? Do Parisians shop around for bread? Interested in remarks...

This one doesn't and regards the very idea as a silly.waste of time.

Yes, a silly waste of time! Now if only we could find decent bread at home.

As a bread lover I can definitely see myself traipsing all over Paris to the best bread shops. You definitely wouldn't understandt the passion if your not a bread connossieur! Same goes for wine and cheese imho thi ngs the French excel at doing.

Are most French bread connossieurs? Or do most just go to their neighborhood boulangerie - which has the most traditional if pleabean French breads. Not sure it's like with wine and cheese.

Nanabee - >> what do you think of this list of great bakeries<<

I truly do think your question is unanswerable.

>>As a bread lover I can definitely see myself traipsing all over Paris to the best bread shops. <<

There are hundreds and hundreds of bread shops. Most people would only go to the best place in their local neighborhood since they buy bread every day or two . . . They certainly wouldn't travel from say the 10th or 18th out to Meudon (Franck Debieu) or the 14th (Dominic Saibron) as examples.

I would! In fact I do that here in my city. I drive 25 minutes by car to a bakery that is outstanding. But that is just me apparently

https://paw.princeton.edu/article/his-daily-bread

Here is the article - it is interesting to read. Just seeing the loaf of bread makes me want to fly to Paris.

French friend was here last year and said Panera Bread here 'had bread better than most French boulangeries'- I was floored but she said it. Enough for being a bread kind of sewer!

Yes, I have eaten Panera Bread. She obviously isn't a connoisseur is she.
Sorry folks if your aren't interested no further conversation is necessary.

>>I would! In fact I do that here in my city. I drive 25 minutes by car to a bakery that is outstanding. But that is just me apparently <<

But you are sort of comparing apples and oranges. There are probably 200 decent bread shops in Paris for every good one in San Diego. If there was one every block or two you wouldn't have to drive across town.

Nanabee, I love good bread. There aren't any good bakeries around here, but when we get to a city I research ahead of time to find a good bakery.

When we visit France we have some favorite bakeries in various towns and villages. We time our visits to these towns on days the bakery is open.

I've often been disappointed in baguettes in France. My husband likes them better than I do and he remembers which boulangeries bake them the way he likes them.

I have two favorite bakeries that make the large levain loaves and sell by the slice.

None of these is in Paris, so no help for you, but I completely understand going a long way for really good bread. I hope you find a lot of it.

I don't think I have had any of those. Last trip we were in the 2nd so tried Eric Kayser, Paul and Stroher. Stroher has a walnut bread that I love and even went there when staying in the 14th for a loaf. One night we grabbed a loaf from Monoprix and it was not that great. We had a loaf in Verdun that had olives in it and loved it from a grocery store bakery. I have never been to Poilane. I see it for sale in the grocery stores but one day will get a fresh loaf. I love bread and french butter even more. I looked at King Arthur on how to make it and actually tried but it is a long process with making a starter that has to sit overnight. It really wasn't that bad but need practice on making my loaves. I am having trouble typing on my computer. Switched to a different one. I do appreciate the article and don't live in France but love bread.

Coquelicot, thanks.
I should have focused more on the article which is a very interesting read and discusses the science behind a loaf of bread. It makes the point that bread outside of Paris isn't necessarily as good. That was my experience in France as well.

Water, flour, fermentation and the ovens. I would love a wood fire oven. We had one in Canada and it made the best bread. It really is a science. There are Italian rolls made in Philly that no one else can replicate. Amorrosa's rolls are so good. Sour Dough bread from SF. French bread from Paris.

Macross I wish I could make bread. Sounds like you are many steps ahead of me.

Nanabee, I didn't realize that was a current article about Steve Kaplan. I would absolutely trust his opinion on the best bakeries. I think you should go to all of them and write a trip report for us.

​​​​​​He mentions slow fermentation and I think that's the difference between really good bread and run of the mill bread.

I have seven boulangeries less than two blocks from my apartment. I actually eat very little bread, but I like getting it still warm from the oven, which is my own reason for paying no attention to lists of best bakeries.

Here in San Antonio two brothers raised by a woman renowned for her bread making expertise in Mexico City opened La Panaderia and all their products are to die for. The original location is much too close to home, I have to avert my eyes when driving by lest I fall into carbo canyon. But for an occasional treat....

And, believe it or not, quite decent baguettes are at a local Costco!

Do you know Steve Kaplan coquelicot? Isn't it an interesting article.
seamus - carbo canyon