For some reason my timing has never been in sync to attend Le Fete du Pain and I always regret missing it. Last week while on a tour of Notre Dame, I noticed the tent being setup with the dates written on it.
La Fete du Pain is a very important annual event celebrating and promoting the art of traditional bread making in France. Now in its 17th year, it stems from the celebration of the Patron Saint of Bakers on May 16.
I made my way to La Fete du Pain on Sunday morning and the smell of fresh baked bread as I approached Notre Dame was inescapable and ever so enticing.
The front counters selling baguettes, rolls, pizzas, croissants, and sweet pastries plus every other imaginable variation of bread was jammed with people queuing to buy.
Bakers were in full view rolling, kneading, cutting, mixing, and rolling, then sliding the goodies into ovens. A group of cheerful youngsters from the island of Reunion, a former French colony, gaily clothed in bright blue T-shirts and sunshine yellow caps were busily baking away, learning the craft of baking.
In the back of the tent was a section of tables decorated with a selection of beautifully crafted breads from some of the top bakers in France.
A stage was setup where the big award for that day was given, the National Award for the best boulangerie and the bakers were preening for a photo op before the award was given out later that morning.
This year La Fete du Pain runs from May 12 to 18 and events include a special baker’s mass at Notre Dame, the Best Baguette in Paris, the national award for best traditional baguette, and best croissant.
La Fete du Pain
Till May 18
Parvis/plaza at Notre Dame
http://www.lafetedupain.com/index.htm
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I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 210 euros for up to 3 people, and 70 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
