During our 2008 "staycation", Jenn and I wandered the ByWard Market and stopped for freshly baked croissants from the French Baker on Murray Street (119). Here is a croissant from Owner Jérôme Mantel's legendary bakery that summer:

French Baker Croissant (circa 2008)

Cross-Section

Here is the "a-style" sandwich sign, belonging to the French Baker's adjoining restaurant from our visit

Benny's Bistro Sandwich Sign
and the bakery's business card.

Business Card

After we finished our ByWard Market culinary tour, lead by C'est Bon Cooking's Paola St-George (@cestboncooking), Jenn and I again stopped into the French Baker on Murray Street. Here is a croissant from the bakery this summer:

French Baker Croissant (circa 2010)

Cross-Section

Unrolled

Here is a shot of the bakery from our visit

French Baker's Murray Street Storefront

Why do I post photos that demonstrate markedly different textured croissants from the same bakery? We participated in a Croissant Battle this past April. The croissants we compared were ones we purchased that day.

The French Baker has been around since 1995. Its website boasts the bakery has grown its operation to "20 employees, including nine professional bakers, food and pastry chefs." While Mantel has no doubt established exacting standards, both its Murray Street and Bank Street locations cannot produce the same croissants everyday. There are simply too many variables in play, including staff turnover. This is why food bloggers are encouraged to visit eateries more than once before rendering any determinations on them.

The fact is the French Baker makes good croissants according to the following criteria:

...a good butter croissant is freshly baked. It unravels easily and can be teased apart. Inside, you should be able to see layers, spiraling outwards. It is brushed with egg wash half way through baking, so it takes on a golden colour as it crisps up. When handled, the crust should shatter into pieces. It should taste buttery, but should not leave your fingers an oily mess.

Source: "Ottawa Croissant Battle: A Round Up", foodiePrints.com

Whether you are a visitor to Ottawa or a long time resident, the French Baker is a source for good croissants. We have never bought croissants there we didn't like.

Particulars:
Le Boulanger Francais The French Baker
119 Murray Street
(613) 789-7941
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am – 6:30pm Sat, Sun 7am – 5:30pm



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