Ottawa Foodies

The French Baker hands down has the best in the city!!!

Here is a perfect croissant, freshly purchased from the Première Moisson bakery on Monkland Ave in Montreal (June 24, 2006). A few memorable minutes later it was all mashed up and soggy in my gut. Highly recommended.

In front, two delicious croissants from the French Baker. In behind, one of their baguettes.

No debate...the French Baker has the best croissants in Ottawa. Light, buttery - flaky on the outside and tender on the inside. For those of us too tired to trump down to the Byward Market early in the morning (they often sell out), the croissants are also for sale at Bridgehead.

Went to the French Baker twice last week. First time they were sold out of croissants so I just bought a baguette (perfect - thick crust on the outside, soft and tasty inside). Second time I struck gold - lots of croissants available. Bought two - one for my husband and one for me along with two baguettes, pleasantly surprised to have a third baguette thrown in for free.

Yum. I'm drooling just thinking back on the croissant. Flaky, buttery - perfect! Now that I think about it, I think I'll swing by tonight.

We heat the oven to 400 F and stick the croissants in for a few minutes, and they end up almost as good as fresh.

There used to be a cafe up the street from The French Baker that I used to frequent (Sips?) run by a lovely blonde woman named Lina (I think). You know you spend too much time at your cafe when you get invited to the staff holiday party! On the weekends, I used to buy 3 or 4 croissants from The French Baker, and carry them up to the cafe, and have the cook there make me an 'eggs hollandaise', draped over the open croissant. As a bribe for this favour of preparing food that I brought with me I always brought extra croissants for Lina and the cook. Mmmm... good times...

I found too much amount of butter (or I should say overdose of butter). It seems that that is what they are famous for. But I personally like to eat croissants with the right amount of butter.

The Croissant from the French Baker (also available at any Bridgehead in town). There is no breakfast pastry more perfect.

I must agree with you all. I am one to hate croissants but last Thursday in the freezing rain I walked there to try them and they were worth it! By the way, they are HUGE croissants but I ate it all up in one gluttonous go anyway.

Absolutely the best croissants in Ottawa. Apparently there is 20cents of butter in each croissant!

I've had them probably six times in the past ten years -- always on a weekend. As you said, it's the extraordinary amount of butter that makes them so heavy. But clearly that's what people like because they're often sold out when I get there! :)

Yum - I've finally found a croissant that reminds me of the ones I used to get at my local market in Montreal! Picked one up at the Merivale location this morning, fresh out of the oven.

All this talk about croissants made me hungry - picked up a couple at Farm Boy (Merivale) this evening :P

Today's batch (or what was left of it) looked more like buns than croissants ->

Sorry - I should have clarified I was talking about the Premiere Moisson croissants! I really wish they had them in an open display so I could pick and choose as I see fit :)

Just wondering monty....are you talking about the Premier Moisson croissants from the showcases or the croissants that you get in the 6 packs??

I love these croissants. Great flavour with just the right amount of butter, and baked to perfection - unlike some other grocery store's so called croissants (Loblaws...blech!)

Yes!!! If they bake them correctly (e.g. Merivale location) they are recognizable as the superior Première Moisson croissants. Interestingly, the shape is more "manufactured" and less artfully delicious looking than those in Montreal.

I was shopping quite late in the day (6pm) and purchased two of the five remaining croissants. I ate one as soon as I got home and it was clear that it hadn't been baked within the past hour or two; but the great flavour and texture were unmistakable. I'm drooling to try one earlier in the day, when they are fresh from the oven.

For my taste, these are now the best croissants in Ottawa!

Spied at the Merivale Farm Boy location: perfectly baked non-yellow Première Moisson croissants (like the one in my photo on the food 17 page). Because of the holiday shopping rush I didn't get a chance to linger and sample one, but I will do so ASAP.

The new Farm Boy in Barrhaven sells Première Moisson croissants. I was excited when I discovered this because the ones sold in Montreal are truly awesome.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed to find that the Première Moisson croissants sold in Ottawa are underbaked. Croissants are not meant to be a YELLOW food! They are supposed to have a nice brown colour like the one in my photo of a Première Moisson croissant purchased in Montreal. Sorry, I can't recommend them.

The Herb and Spice (at least the one on Wellington, I'm not sure about the one downtown) sells croissants from The French Baker. So if you're craving croissants and can't get down to the Market, there's another place to get your fix!

Plain, almond (not overly sweet) and chocolate (pain au chocolat); wonderful brioches, too.

Their croissants are really good, both the traditional and chocolate. Probably only second to the French Baker in my opinion.

We tried some croissants here (plain, cheese, and chocolate) just after trying one from the French Baker (vendor 1077). It was a bit like eating a slice of processed cheese after tasting a morsel of Oka.

Not absolutely terrible, but not much better than one can get at the grocery store. (Pillsbury croissants are absolutely terrible, so these aren't quite that bad! :-) ). A little on the dry and chewy side.