How to order a baguette in France ?

My quick guide to choose your baguette 👌

Bonjour, it’s Théo !

Oui, oui, baguette 🥖

Today it’s time to talk about a symbol of French culture : the iconic baguette !

In France, and especially in Paris, you can find boulangeries (French word for bakery) pretty much everywhere. Any street has a boulangerie.

Finding a good baguette in Paris is really easy. If you go to an authentic bakery, NOT a franchise as Brioche Dorée or Paul, you will have the experience of a true Parisian baguette.

It’s long, crispy on the edge, and really soft inside. You can open it in half and spread some salted butter, add jam or chocolate powder, and you will have the typical French children snack.

The baguette is usually eaten for breakfast as “tartine” or toast, and it’s always available on the table during the different meals or the day.

Usually in a restaurant, you can find a baguette or another type of bread, like “Pain de campagne”, a round rustic bread, or some with other flours like rye bread.

A big tradition

When you have finished a meal, for lunch or dinner, you can take a piece of bread and start to “saucer le plat” (to “sauce” the dish). You dip the baguette in the sauce remaining in your plate, and you eat the all thing. The bread will take the taste of the meal and you won’t waste any drop of the sauce.

This tradition can sometimes be seen as impolite in really expensive restaurants. But it’s definitely something we can do in most of the brasseries. Don’t hesitate to “sauce” your dish, you will definitely enjoy it !

Which baguette to try ?

Photo by Bas Peperzak on Unsplash

There are 2 principal types of baguette.

The Regular baguette : It’s the one we know the most. Long, crispy and golden on the edge.

The “Tradition” : it’s a baguette that follows different criteria. You don’t have any chemicals added, and it’s usually a more rustic baguette, the favorite one of French people !

You can find both of them in any boulangerie, and I recommend to try a “tradition” to be sure to have the best recipe with no conservative or chemicals inside.

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Now you know a little bit more about the baguettes and you will be ready to try it in Paris !

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See you in Paris,

À bientôt 👋