The Baker J Guide to French Bread and Pastries
Bread is one of the best things in life, especially when it’s the French kind. Rich in texture and bursting with flavor (usually because of authentic French-made butter), there’s nothing like biting into a warm bread to start off your day or to energize you in the afternoon. And for lunch and dinner? The difference between a regular sandwich and a great one could be in the kind of bread you use.
Baker J’s Artisan Bread are all made by hand. The dough is fermented for a longer period of time compared to commercial breads and rolls. This process ensures maximum flavor and that perfect crusty exterior and fluffy texture within.
Meanwhile, the impressive selection of Viennoiserie – the collective term for laminated French pastries; it’s “the bridge between pâtisserie and French bread”, according to Le Cordon Bleu – are made using both modern and traditional techniques perfected by Crimson Hotel Filinvest City’s Executive Pastry Chef, Nicolas Pasdeloup, with his decades’ worth of culinary expertise working in some of the finest hotels and restaurants around the world.
French Baguette
This classic bread is synonymous to France. Made from basic lean dough, a well-made baguette has to have that crisp exterior (experts say there’s an unmistakable crackling sound when the baguette is slightly pressed) with a light and airy interior.
Classic French Croissant
Aside from the baguette, the croissant is one of the most popular French baked goods. Made with pure butter and hard work, each croissant must have a crisp golden brown exterior and the cross-section must show the perfect swirl filled with air bubbles. The dough is fermented and folded over and over again (or “laminated”) to lock butter in between, making at least 80 layers of buttery pastry. A well-made croissant goes well with almost anything and can be enjoyed any time of the day, but at Baker J, you can also enjoy different variations of this iconic French laminated pastry.
Mixed Seeds Loaf
For a bread with a healthier twist, try the signature Mixed Seeds Loaf loaded with sesame seeds, linseeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and oatmeal. It’s a tasty source of fiber and protein.
Pain Au Chocolat
Pain Au Chocolat is the more decadent cousin of the croissant. It's a flaky buttery pastry with a rich chocolate filling. It’s best enjoyed with coffee or tea.
Cube Croissant
Imagine the perfect croissant but in loaf form then filled with homemade salted caramel and topped with more salted caramel and walnuts. This is exactly what you’ll get when you get the Cube Croissant from Baker J.
Sourdough Bread
Unlike regular bread, sourdough has no yeast, milk, oils, eggs, or sweeteners. Instead, it uses a fermented “starter” that helps break down the gluten, making the bread’s interior softer and easier to digest. The longer the starter ferments, the better the bread. Baker J’s sourdough uses a two-year-old starter made with a mixture of mango, calamansi, apple and raisin. This ensures unique flavors you can’t have anywhere else.
The Country Sourdough Bread is perfect any time of the day, if you’re looking for something a little more different, you can also try Baker J’s signature Beetroot Sourdough Bread and Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread.
Pain Au Raisin
If you want something more than butter croissants but a bit lighter than Pain Au Chocolat, Baker J’s Pain Au Raisin is the pastry for you. It’s the same crisp pastry filled with naturally sweet raisins.
What’s even better? You can now order any of these French pastries and hearty classic dishes through the recently-launched Baker J App. From breakfast to dinner, enjoy these and more at the comfort of your home or office. Download the app today via https://bit.ly/bakerjapp and place your 1st order to earn rewards.
Baker J is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for take-out and deliveries. It is located at the Ground Lobby of Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Entrata Urban Complex, Civic Drive, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. For more updates, like and follow @BakerJManila on Facebook and Instagram.
