Even the ducks like Eric Kayser breads..
Eric Kayser Bakery
I recently made my way to the Eric Kayser Bakery on Rue Monge. It was weeks ago that Aude left a comment for me and suggested I try Kayser's Pain aux Figues. It had been on my mind ever since, so this visit was long overdue. It was a gorgeous walk from my apartment, but then again, anytime I have to cross the river I always feel an extra bit of a spring in my step. The things I pass by just to get to my intended destination are hugely distracting, and it often leaves me wondering how I will ever get to explore this whole city. If, in fact, that is even remotely possible.
Pain aux Figues
So I happily ordered my Pain aux Figues, and with my bag in hand, wondered where I should wander next. The sun was shining, there was a slight breeze, it was a perfect fall morning, and all I wanted was to be outside. I decided to head towards the Luxembourg Gardens, a perfect spot for a stroll. I sat myself down at one of my favourite places, the Medicis fountain, which was built in the 1630's.
There was one lone duck swimming around in the water and there I was with a bag full of some fine, fine bread. How could I resist? She came right over and stared up at me and then opened her beak as if to say "Come on, just one little taste?".
It had been a very long time since I had fed a duck. Or any bird for that matter. I'm usually highly against it for some self-righteous reason that I seemed to have forgotten on this particular day. But the air was quiet and peaceful and it just seemed like the right thing to do.
As soon as she heard the crinkling of the bag, I swear her neck extended, like a dog who stands up on his hind legs and leans on you to get closer to what is in your hands. She's clearly done this before. But it was still awfully cute. And I will say, that that little duck of mine was truly spoiled. This was no wonderbread lunch she was having, she was dining on some fine, fig filled bread.
As you can see by the picture above of the bread, it was somewhat ravaged by the time I got it home. My duck friend and I showed no mercy. The bread was delicious, with moist figs scattered throughout and a nice crunchy outer crust.
Well the little gal and I had to part ways at some point so I wandered through the treed area of the gardens and was astounded at how beautiful it looked at this time of year. Leaves scattered about, people sitting quietly, reading, drawing or gazing out at the view around them, it was absolutely picture perfect.
Leaves piling up at the Luxembourg Gardens
And yes, there was even some Tai Chi..
And a big thanks to Aude for suggesting the bread!
Eric Kayser
8, rue Monge
75005
Labels: bread, Paris, Paris bakeries
posted by Michèle at 4:25 PM
19 Comments:
What beautiful pictures! And I've never heard of figs in bread, but I'm sure it would be a favorite of mine if I was somewhere I could buy it! Thanks for sharing your lovely day!
I wanna buy pain aux figues and share them with a smart duck! Sounds like a lovely day. Keep enjoying and thanks for the lovely photos!
Paz
Great job Michele
That is a beautiful bread from a gorgeous boulangerie that a way to cute and smart duck had it's fair sahre of. Wow. jealous. :)
wow Michele! Paris is lovelly and it's much better when we see it through your eyes...
I remember a duck similar to yours, he acted as he knew much better than me what to do with a piece of bread. ;) Besos
Michele, that bread looks incredible. And I couldn't even eat it if I had some! At least I can enjoy it vicariously throught the ducks ;) Your pictures are beautiful, I must someday come see Paris in the Fall!
Hi Michelle, Im glad you like the pictures. I actually had many more I wanted to post, it was hard to choose from them. But the gardens look so beautiful in the fall! I had never had fig bread before either, but I will definitely buy it again, it seems like a wonderful bread to have on hand for breakfast.. mmm..
Hi Paz, well I hope you can do the same, I'm sure there is a duck or two in your neighbourhood who would love to get some bread crumbs from you!
Hi Clare, it certainly was a gorgeous bread although I realize that in the picture shows the loaf as quite fig-less, as I had picked out most of the figs from that part of the loaf. Typical of me to do. I didn't even share the figs with the duck!
Hi Tattum, thank you for your kind words, Im glad to hear you are enjoying my tales.. And it does seem that the ducks are much smarter than we might think!
Hi Melissa, oh you poor thing! well at least you can imagine the bread and perhaps one day you can pick the figs out and at least eat some of those :) Im glad you like my pictures.. Paris is stunning lately, I had never been here in the fall before so Im quite enthralled.
Wow....you give me another reason to head into the city and leave my 'nest' behind!
To think the city center is just 20 minutes (NO traffic) away! I must make an effort!
Melissa
Those pictures are beautiful, and the J du Luxembourg! My profile pic is taken from atop a chair there. We had a little picnic in the garden last spring and it's kind of become a ritual for our anniversary (dating not marriage:)
I thought Central Park was the only place you found random groups of people doing tai chi! Apparently not!
I love to feed duckies and this particular one sounds like a "gourmet duck"! Lovely pixs of autumn in paree. Thanks for that lovely story.
Dear Michele,
Parisian ducks are really lucky!!
I am glad that you tried E. Kayser pain aux figues and that you liked it.
Hi Melissa, well I'm happy to encourage you into making a trip, the city is especially beautiful right now, but then again, I'm new here, so Im still a bit awestruck at everything ;)
Hi Mona, I was really surprised to see the Tai Chi too, although I had occassionaly seen groups in Toronto, Canada doing it in random parks.. I can't imagine a more lovely place to do it than the Luxembourg gardens! Almost makes me want to sign up!
Hi Boo, Im glad you liked the pics, I think I'll be taking many more since the colours are so beautiful!
Hi Aude, I agree the ducks here are very well fed indeed! And thanks again for the recommendation, I will definitely buy that bread again!
What gorgeous photos, Michele. It does seem the perfect fall day - and what adorable feathered friends you have my dear! Again the figs, I see, you will soon have the market cornered!
That bread looks delicious...it's so hard to find good European-style bread here in Canada, so I've recently taken to baking my own bread (whenever I find time, which sadly isn't very often). I've just recently discovered food blogs, and yours are so interesting to read.
Michele, I want to go back to Paris right now, your pictures are so beautiful.
Hi Plutoniumgirl, thanks for stopping by. Im glad you are enjoying food blogs! I've only made my own bread a few times too, although I will say that there used to be a baguette at Loblaws (in some of their Toronto stores) that to this day I still miss. It wasnt a real "baguette" as the french know it, it was soft and spongy and it would literaly bend fully in half if you held it by the middle--but it was so wonderful!
Hi Keiko, thank you so much! Im really glad you like the pictures. Im truly quite stunned at how pretty everything is, I just want fall to last for months so I can properly enjoy it all!
hi michele, it was incredibly generous of you to share your boulangerie kaiser bread with the ducks!...paris is a veritable warren of secret pleasures to be discovered...your post and beautiful pictures makes me want to hop onto a plane immediately...
I've been meaning to try their bread. Thanks for the nudge!
Lovely, lovely photos, ma cherie! And I'm very jealous of you and that duck. I've had bread from Kayser, but not the pain aux figues. It looks and sounds wonderful...
Hi J, that duck was too darn cute too resist, and with both of us kind of sitting there on our own it seemed like the right thing to do! And if you cant resist hopping on a plane to get here, be sure to look me up!
Hi Christine, definitely give them a try! I also really like his olive bread.. of course there are a million more to try, im sure it will take me forever, but im up for the challenge!
Hi Molly, thank you dearest, Im glad you like the photos. Perhaps it will nudge you to get yourself out here and we can go feed the ducks together, with some Kayser bread or perhaps some leftover Laduree macaron crumbs?
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