I know, I know, say it ain’t so, but sometimes you want something that is not a croissant. Sometimes you just want green tea or red beans right in your pastry – MMM! Right now, I am reading a funny travelogue about a trip through Japan (Hitching Rides with Buddha by Will Ferguson) and I was inspired to stop by a Japanese bakery that I had heard about ages ago: Aki Boulanger. I forget how, but this place came to my attention about two years ago, yet I never visited. I stopped by about a month ago, but alas, it was August and the doors were firmly shut for vacances. So – today I had to take advantage of the beautiful weather and stroll over to Rue Sainte Anne. I was not disappointed.
I didn’t know what to order, so I picked out three simple things with green tea: Matcha Cake, Blanc Matcha Azuki, and Melon Matcha. All delicious. The matcha cake and melon matcha bread were as I expected: sweet treats with the earthy flavor of green tea. I sliced into the blanc matcha azuki and to my surprise: red beans! (I know – azuki should have given it away, but I didn’t notice that until I read my receipt later.) I felt like I won a prize! Super yummy. I did not see the Marbré Azuki Matcha bread, so I will definitely go back in search of that, plus sample some other things.
Although I took my items to go, there are tables outside and small lunch tables on the inside. It looked like a nice spot to stop for a tea or coffee if you are in the Opera/Pyramides area. In addition to the Japanese baked good items, there were also traditional French items and a few lunch items.
Special bonus, the Rue Sainte Anne is lined with different Asian restaurants that I am dying to try – so if anyone is up for a lunch out please let me know!
Aki Boulanger
16 rue Sainte-Anne, 75001 Paris
Métro : Pyramides – Ligne 7, 14
Bus : 21 , 27 , 29 , 68 , 95 , 81
Elizabeth Linder 