Librairie à Chats

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Not for *les allergiques, Mon Chat Pitre (My Foolish Cat) is France’s first ‘purring bookshop’, found in the Aix-en-Provence. Opened in 2021 by passionate animal advocate Solène Chavanne, the bookshop is the permanent pouncing ground of several rescue cats – and, sorry, no, you can’t take one home.

France has the highest pet abandonment rate in Europe, and this unique bookstore draws attention to the plight of overwhelmed shelters, while also offering a wide selection of books of every genre.

If your idea of an afternoon well spent involves patting cats, sipping coffee and perusing pages, this might just be the purrfect destination on your next trip to France.

Read more here.

Librairie Mon Chat Pitre
13 Rue de Montigny, 13100
Aix-en-Provence, France
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* the allergic

Everyday Parisian

Sharing her lifelong love affair with France since 2016, American Francophile Rebecca Plotnick is the woman – and skilled snapper – behind the popular Everyday Parisian blog and The Paris Diaries newsletter.

Worth a look for her photos alone, Rebecca’s content ranges from seasonal packing tips and neighbourhood guides to advice on the best restaurants in Paris for solo dining.

You can also read about Rebecca’s passion for Paris (and new book) in her interview for A Table in France. Or pick up one of her prints online.

A Tour of France in 10 Classic Dishes

From *les huîtres at Cap Ferret to tartiflette in the Alps, whet your appetite for a culinary tour of France in 10 classic dishes. Rounding up the country’s most delectable regional delicacies with a side helping of accommodation suggestions, this Guardian article is a must for any gourmand.

*oysters

Oursons Guimauve

For this nostalgic French confection, the clue is in the name. With ‘oursons’ meaning bear cubs or little bears and ‘guimauve’ meaning marshmallow, oursons guimauve are chocolate-covered marshmallow bears loved by kids of all ages.

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Created in 1962 and produced by Cémoi since 2003, the classic commercial version, Petit Ourson Guimauve (Little Marshmallow Bear), is 6-ish centimetres and dipped in milk chocolate with a fluffy marshmallow centre.

Made in Villeneuve-d'Ascq in northern France, les Petits Oursons Guimauve are available in supermarkets across France. However, non-branded versions of the sweet little bears are also made by artisanal chocolatiers – sometimes with *chocolat noir for the more grown-up palate.

*dark chocolate

The Best Croissants in Brisbane

Searching for the best croissants in Brisbane? We’ve oh-so-selflessly put our taste buds on the line to find them for you. From the perfect balance of golden-brown flakiness to the light-as-air ‘puff’ and dreamy, buttery *goût, our 100% French taste testers know what makes quality *Viennoiserie – and THESE are the croissants sure to wow with every bite.

Brisbane’s Best Croissants (As Voted by Our French Team)

Without further ado, *voici Brisbane’s best croissants. Be sure to bookmark this article, ready for your next Saturday morning pastry and coffee run!

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Christian Jacques, Kangaroo Point

Christian Jacques, Kangaroo Point

According to four of our six experts, the best Brisbane croissant can be found at Christian Jacques Bakery, opposite the Story Bridge Hotel.  

Says Alicia, “Le feuilletage est parfait et ils sont croustillants comme je les aime. Peut-être un peu moins les jours très humides!”

Or, *en anglais…

The flakiness is perfect and they are crispy just the way I like them. Maybe a little less on very humid days!

Adds Justine D, “Sans surprise, le meilleur croissant que j'ai mangé à Brisbane vient de Christian Jacques. Tout le monde parlait de cette boulangerie, et je trouvais ça exagéré. Mais quand j'ai goûté le croissant aux amandes, j'ai COMPRIS!  

“Tendre et délicieux. Maintenant, j'adore y passer tous les dimanches matin pour rapporter des douceurs à ma famille.”

No surprise, the best croissant I’ve had in Brisbane is from Christian Jacques. Everyone kept talking about this bakery, and I thought it was exaggerated. But when I tasted the almond croissant, I UNDERSTOOD!

Tender and delicious. Now, I love stopping by every Sunday morning to bring home some sweet treats for my family.

A word to the wise, be prepared to queue! You won’t regret it.

Christian Jacques Bakery
Address: 8 Baildon St, Kangaroo Point
Opening Hours: Tues to Sun | 6am-1pm
Website: christianjacquespastries.com
Phone: 0432 009 006
Instagram |Facebook 

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Rise Bakery, Newstead and Hamilton

Rise Bakery, Newstead and Hamilton

While Marion is also rapt with the croissants from Christian Jacques, she names those from Rise Bakery as Brisbane’s second best.

“Les croissants ont la bonne quantité de beurre, ni trop ni pas assez.” 

The croissants have the right amount of butter, not too much or not enough.

The best bit? Rise has two Brisbane locations in Portside and Newstead, as well as an original outpost at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast. So there’s no need to go without quality croissants on your next road trip to the beach.

Rise Bakery
Address: 194 Breakfast Creek Rd, Newstead; Shop 7.01F/39 Hercules St, Hamilton (Portside)
Opening Hours: Newstead Daily | 6am - 3pm; Portside Daily | 7am - 4pm
Website: risebakery.com.au
Phone: Newstead 0478 655 551; Portside 0434 132 995
Instagram| Facebook

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Banette Bayside, Wynnum

Banette, Wynnum

For teacher Justine H, a croissant must be “croustillant” (crisp) but not “sec” (dry) to be perfect. So, her verdict on the home of Brisbane’s best croissants? A bayside French bakery and café.

“J'ai essayé les croissants chez Banette à Wynnum et ils étaient plutôt bons! Gonflé et beurré.”  

I tried the croissants at Banette in Wynnum and they were quite good! Puffy and buttery.

Hot tip: Banette conveniently has a sister venue in West End.

Banette Bayside
Address: 70 Bay Terrace, Wynnum
Opening Hours: Daily | 6:30 am–2 pm
Website: banettebayside.com.au
Phone: 3189 0257
Instagram | Facebook

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Beurre Pastries, Milton

Beurre Pastries, Milton

Another hot contender in the Brisbane croissant battle, says Alexia, is the aptly named Beurre on Park Road in Milton.

“J'aime vraiment beaucoup ceux de Christian Jacques, mais j'ai également goûté ceux de chez Beurre, que je trouve aussi vraiment bon. Ils sont croustillants comme je les aime, bien aérés et ils n'ont pas trop de beurre.”

I really like the ones from Christian Jacques, but I also tried the ones from Beurre, which I also find really good. They are crispy as I like them, well fluffy and they don't have too much butter.

Beurre Pastries
Address: 33 Park Road, Milton
Opening Hours: Wednesday  Sunday| 7.00am - 1.30pm (unless sold out prior)
Instagram

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The Three Musketeers, Lota

The Three Musketeers, Lota

According to Deborah, hungry families should make a beeline to this Lota cafe for their flaky croissant fix – with the top-notch Viennoiserie baked fresh each day in their French bakery in Bulimba, Le Caprice.  

“À mes yeux, les meilleurs croissants sont ceux servis avec le sourire dans un petit café comme The Three Musketeers à Lota et dégustés en famille le dimanche matin.” 

In my opinion, the best croissants are those served with a smile in a small cafe like The Three Musketeers in Lota and enjoyed with family on Sunday mornings. 

Sounds good to us!

The Three Musketeers
Address: 687 Esplanade, Lota
Opening Hours: Weds & Sun | 7am-3pm; Thurs-Sat
Website: thethreemusketeers.au
Phone: 0481 139 173
Instagram | Facebook

Honourable Mentions

Other top spots for delicious croissants in Brisbane include:

• Lune Croissanterie (CBD & South Brisbane)

• Miche Bakery (New Farm)

• Flour & Chocolate (Morningside, Northgate, Redcliffe)

• Darvella Patisserie (Bulimba)

• Le Caprice Patisserie (Bulimba)

• C’est du Gâteau (South Brisbane)

• Sprout Artisan Bakery (Fortitude Valley)

newcomer alert!

Idle, New Farm

Appalled we’ve left Agnes Bakery off this list? The James Street favourite sadly closed its doors last month, *mais t'inquiète pas. The Anyday crew are now slinging top-notch pastry from their brand-spanking new Merthyr Road bakery and cafe, Idle. That’s right, some of Brisbane’s best croissants are now within easy strolling distance from *le nid!

*style of pastries | *taste | *here are | *in English | *but don’t worry | *the nest

Top Foodie Picks in France

Headed to France? Make sure you bookmark this article. From a country bistro in Beaujolais to a hot spot for *fruits de mer in Brittany, here are The Guardian readers’ favourite restaurants. And the best bit is they won’t break the bank.

À la Bonne Franquette

Meaning simple and fuss-free, à la bonne franquette is exactly the type of fare you can expect to pick up from New Farm’s fabulous new French deli and takeaway of the same name.

The brainchild of French natives Delphine and Hugo Wintzer, located on Brunswick Street, À la Bonne Franquette has been received with open arms by local gourmands. And with a menu of classic French fare like soupe à l’oignon* and bœuf bourguignon to go, and gourmet cheeses, pâtés and goodies for your next soirée*, it’s easy to see why.

Co-owner Delphine recently took five minutes out of her busy day to give us the lowdown on their new venture. Make sure you drop by and dit ‘Bonjour!’*

What is the idea behind À La Bonne Franquette?

The idea behind À la Bonne Franquette was to bring a piece of France to both Australians and French expats longing for a taste of home. We offer a menu of authentic French dishes at very reasonable prices. Since it’s just Hugo and me running the business, and we focus solely on takeaway, we’re able to keep our prices affordable.

We also wanted to introduce a deli section where Australians can discover French products, and French people can find items that remind them of home.

When did you open? How has the response been?

We opened on September 17, just two months ago, and the response from the community has been amazing. The neighbourhood has welcomed us warmly, and we’ve been thrilled to see so many customers return after trying our food. Some have even become regulars!

Word of mouth has been wonderful, and we often see new customers who’ve heard about us from friends. It’s heartwarming and fun to see this organic growth.

What brought you to Brisbane?

Hugo and I were backpacking and we arrived in Australia six years ago. We met and spent time in Melbourne before making Brisbane our home two years ago.

Who’s manning la cuisine*?

Hugo, who has been a French chef for over 10 years, is the heart of our kitchen. He’s at the shop from Tuesday afternoon to Saturday night, while I join him with our baby, Ophelia, around 3 PM most days.

Can you also dine in?

Although we’re primarily a takeaway restaurant, we do have three small tables for customers who wish to dine in.

What French delicacies are stocked in the deli?

Alongside our menu, we offer a selection of nostalgic French treats – like biscuits and lollies from our childhood – as well as pâtés, terrines, foie gras, cheeses, chips, and even raclette machines. We also stock beautifully crafted French cutlery sets.

What do you think of the French culinary scene in Brisbane?

Brisbane’s French culinary scene is evolving rapidly, and we’re proud to be part of this growing landscape. We’re excited to share our concept with the community and bring a little slice of France to Brisbane.

À La Bonne Franquette
710 Brunswick Street, New Farm

*onion soup | *evening party |*say Hello | *the kitchen

Paris Bouillons

Next time your stomach starts to rumble on a trip to Paris, make like the locals have been doing for over a century, and head to a French Bouillon for an authentic and budget-friendly meal.

According to an Urbansider article, “The first bouillons appeared in Paris back in 1855, when a butcher by the name of Pierre Louis Duval came up with a clever and innovative restaurant concept. To quickly and cheaply serve quality meals to the masses of blue-collar workers in the city centre, his restaurants had just item on the menu: a dish of meat and a broth, or ‘bouillon’.”

These restaurants reached the height of their popularity in the 1900s, with over 250 Bouillons feeding working-class Parisians. However, tastes shifted in favour of fancier bistros and eating establishments and, in 2000, only Bouillon Chartier remained.

Fast-forward to 2024, and a new crop of Bouillons are very much back in favour. Locals and tourists are drawn by the promise of affordable but tasty and traditional fare, like steak frites, egg mayonnaise and the namesake bouillon, served in stunning surroundings (Bouillon Pigalle is particularly striking).

Expect to part with $30 or less for a meal – *café and *un verre de vin included.  

Read more here.

*coffee | *a glass of wine

Carette

Lovers of hot chocolate will tell you no trip to Paris is complete without a trip to the iconic and opulent Angelina Salon de Thé on Rue de Rivoli. But another contender for the best cup in town is the equally Insta-famous, Carette.

Founded in 1923, Carette has three bustling locations. However, the original and most popular outpost is at Place du Trocadero – making it the perfect spot to visit after taking your happy snaps of la Tour Eiffel*.

With art deco-inspired interiors and une terrasse* perfect for people-watching (and filming TikToks), the café is renowned for its silky hot chocolate, served with copious amounts of freshly whipped cream.

Not as thick as Angelina’s chocolat chaud* (which almost requires a spoon), Carette’s viral hot chocolate is said to be a little sweeter. According to some, it’s the crème de la crème*. But we’ll leave the taste testing up to you.

*the Eiffel Tower | *a terrace | *hot chocolate | *the very best

Pâtisserie Stohrer

If you're in Paris, don’t miss a trip to Stohrer in the second arrondissement. Established in 1730 by King Louis XV's pastry chef, Nicolas Stohrer, the city's oldest pâtisserie is a must-visit for anyone with a taste for history and dessert in equal measure.

With an unchanged facade and cosy interior, the sole shopfront of this Parisian institution retains its historic charm on the busting Rue Montorgueil, a pedestrian market street popular with locals and tourists. Enter the store, and you’ll face a tough choice – will it be a classic éclair, a zesty tarte au citron*, or Nicolas’ famous creation, the booze-soaked Baba au rhum*?

Or, in the spirit of research, pourquoi pas les trois*? Visit the website to whet your appetite.

*lemon tart | *rum baba | *Why not all three?  

Source : www.facebook.com/StohrerParis/

Les Dunes Blanches

If you ever find yourself in Bordeaux or on the Bay of Arcachon and feel your stomach start to rumble, you’re in for a treat. Head to a local pâtisserie* and you’ll have your tastebuds well and truly sated with the iconic Dune Blanche* pastry – a speciality of the region. 

Better yet, enjoy this Chantilly-filled delight in the place of its creation, Chez Pascal in the seaside resort of Cap Ferret. 

Named in honour of a beach on the Cap-Ferret Peninsula, the Dune Blanche (white dune) is a chantilly*-filled chouquette – a small choux puff topped with pearl sugar. A marriage made in heaven, oui*, but it was conceived by happy accident by Brice Lucas, the son of Pascal (of Chez Pascal) – a celebrated baker from Grand Piquey in Cap Ferret. 

Returning home in the wee hours of the morning, Brice decided to make himself a snack. He filled his father’s leftover chou buns with some nearby cream, et voilà*! Culinary magic was made, and la Dune Blanche won its first fan!

Registered in 2009, the light and airy chouquette is the signature dessert of Arcachon and Cap Ferret. However, you can find les Dunes as far afield as Paris, should the fancy take you. 

Just last year, several of our Chouchous* had a chance to sample the delicacy in the most propitious of circumstances - on a visit to a Cap Ferret beach while gazing at the Dune Blanche itself. Sublime*!

*pastry shop | *White Dune | *whipped cream flavoured with vanilla | *yes | there you go | *Teacher’s Pets | *Sublime!

Photo credit: Henri Lajarrige Lombard

Famous French brands: Ladurée

At 16 Rue Royale in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, clad in pastel green and gold, stands the original Ladurée – a petite and enduring patisserie founded in 1862 by Louis-Ernest Ladurée. 

Initially une boulangerie*, Ladurée was rebuilt following a fire to become one of the city's first tea rooms, opening in 1871. At the time, Paris was undergoing significant cultural and social transformations, and Ladurée and his wife Jeanne had a vision to create a refined gathering place for the Parisian elite. 

Their eponymous establishment rapidement* became just that – capturing the imagination of Parisian society and attracting intellectuals, artists and socialites to indulge in the exquisite pastries and teas amidst Ladurée's elegant ambience. 

However, it wasn’t until decades later that la marque's* most iconic culinary creation came to be. In 1930, the Parisian pastry chef Pierre Desfontaines, grand-cousin of Louis-Ernes, had a lightbulb moment and cemented two macaron shells together with a filling of velvety ganache. And this is how the Parisian macaron was born, mes ami(e)s*!

Central to Ladurée's international allure is this veritable rainbow of macarons in classic flavours like vanilla and chocolate to exotic renditions such as matcha and lychee. No trip to Paris is complete without sampling these delicate confections – and, trust us, you won't stop at just one!

Today, Ladurée stands as a global emblem of Parisian elegance, with boutiques and tearooms from Tokyo to New York, including high-end department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Harrods. 

It's also been immortalised in literature, fashion and film. From Marcel Proust's evocative descriptions of madeleines to Sofia Coppola's cinematic ode in Marie Antoinette, Ladurée has left an indelible mark on popular culture. As well as our collective tastebuds. 

For more, visit the Ladurée France website.

*a bakery | *quickly | *the brand’s | *my friends

Frenchly article: Chocolatiers

A fan of une gâterie sucrée* with your morning café*? Then might we suggest you tantalise your tastebuds with this Frenchly article on Paris’s best chocolatiers. Miam!*

A sweet treat | coffee | Yum!

Lune Croissanterie

If you’re susceptible to une crise de FOMO*, hearing stories of friends going to Lune Croissanterie when in Melbourne could really rankle.

Fear no more, though, for Lune has opened up very recently here in South Brisbane and one of our intrepid Chouchous*, Sue, was straight onto it.

Source : www.lunecroissanterie.com

LF: Sue, I believe you had an interesting outing a couple of weeks ago? Where did you go?

SC: I went to Lune Croissanterie, which has just opened a new location in Brisbane, at the end of Fish Lane in Southbank (13-17 Manning St South Brisbane). It is the mecca of all things croissant, sweet and savoury.

LF: What made you so keen to go?

SC: I had heard of Lune in Melbourne, where it is famous for its over-the-top delicious croissants and pastries, but unfortunately didn’t manage to go there last time I was in Melbourne, and alas, such interstate travel is not feasible at the moment. Their croissants are supposed to be divine, and I’d heard from friends who went that it was amazing. So I knew I had to go when they came to Brisbane.

One of the founders is an ex-Formula 1 scientist, so in a way, this is the Formula 1 of croissants.

LF: Was there a queue?

SC: If you do go check it out, yes there WILL be a line out the door and down the street, because there’s not much space inside the store for socially distanced lines. But don’t let it deter you. They are take away only at the moment, and the line does move fairly quickly, so you won’t be waiting too long. Make sure to go earlier in the day to avoid disappointment, as they tend to sell out of some of the more popular flavours around noon-ish.

LF: Does it live up to the hype?

SC: For me, oui! It is freshly baked on site (you can see them baking in front of you as you wait). The skin is super crispy, and the inside is nice and fluffy, and some of the flavours have gooey cheese-filled layers. It is incredibly rich, but not overly heavy, and does not have that sometimes unpleasant over-the-top old butter flavour that some croissants have. I’m not a huge fan of the pure butter taste, but this is so light and well combined in the dough it is just perfect. It tastes just as good the day after (if you manage to have any leftovers!).

Definitely worth the trip for an occasional indulgence.

LF: What did you buy?

SC: I had the pain au chocolat, almond croissant, kouign amann, morning bun, ham & gruyere. My favourite was the kouign amann, light, crispy and delicate with a sweet glaze. The almond croissant is a beast, delicious, but on the heavy side with the almond paste. The ham and gruyere was amazing if you are after something savoury.

Their menu changes frequently, so check out their Instagram page for seasonal specials. Their Brisbane store has a more limited menu than what you’ll find online, which is for the Melbourne store.

LF: Three words in French to describe how it tasted?

SC: Riche, délicieux, merveilleux.

PS. Is “melt-in-your-mouth” a word? 😃

LF: Merci, Sue!

Brisbane's best French restaurants

With hiver* just around the corner, your senses may be longing for a full-blown French dining experience.

If so, the Brisbane website Gourmand & Gourmet has put together the most recent wrap-up of restos français* we could find. Have they covered the crème de la crème* or do you think they’re missing an absolute jewel? Let us know in the comments below for the bien-être* of all.

*winter | *French restaurants | *cream of the crop | *well-being

Raclette Dinner

We are très tristes* that we'll be unable to hold our annual Dîner Raclette* this year due to Covid restrictions, but we may have just found the next best thing. Quelle excellente idée*!

By the way, if you’re a local Chouchou* and are planning on having your own raclette dinner this year, please fell free to borrow one of our machines. We'd love for them to see some use this year so they're primed for 2021.

*very sad | *Raclette Dinner | *What a great idea! | *Teacher's Pet