Crusty baguette, rustic bread, pain au chocolat, croissant….. ce n’est pas la France, mais Israël. With the large influx of French immigrants in recent years delightful French café bakeries are opening up throughout the country. Israeli pastry chefs studying abroad, as well as native Frenchmen are bringing with them their baking expertise, the art of making the perfect croissant.
These shops lack the zeitgeist of a stereotypical French café one imagines from the 1920′s. Instead of lively discussions on Marx or Proust, the atmosphere is more subdued with quiet conversations between couples and the solitary worker with his laptop. Perhaps the troubles of this small country are too large to solve over a cup of café au lait. Or perhaps these conversations are done digitally with people across the world.
Many years ago a friend from France ate her first Middle Eastern croissant “Why do they put sesame seeds on their croissant? And this sugar glaze, it’s not the way it should be made!” she complained. Since then French pastries have returned to its roots (sans sesame seeds), and are quickly becoming part of the Israeli food scene.
So grab your beret, we are going to search for the perfect croissant.
Mergoza 24 was recommended to me by Lisa Goldman, a journalist who doubles as a Jaffa culinary consultant. She lives close by and knows all the establishments around her neighborhood. I tried the chocolate Danish, as Lisa recommended, a heavenly combination of chocolate and rich buttery pastry. Another patron of Mergoza raved about a pastry filled with crème patisserie and cherries. The bakery also produces wonderful baguettes and various types of breads, from whole grain to sourdough. The croissants are not to be missed.
Mergoza 24
Yehuda Miragusa 24
Jaffa
Not certified kosher
Phone: 057-9417805 or 03-6817787
On a side road in Rehovot lies a tiny bakery that advertises itself with the luscious aromas that waft from their store. A couple tables are crammed in the narrow room where displays of their tarts and pies decorate a central table. The Éclairs here are delicious, creamy and chocolaty. Try some of the seasonal fruit pies and if you are already here bring home a half a dozen croissants. What’s the secret to of their wonderful croissants? It turns out they are supplied by another bakery, La Gaderie in Tel Aviv.
Patisserie
Ahad Ha’am 4
Rehovot
Phone: 08-9470839
Kosher, dairy
Bonafe is a family owned bakery and cafe that serves pies, salads, quiches, sandwiches and wonderful croissants.
Bonafe
French-style coffee shop
Central shopping area
Reut
Phone: 08-976-6992
Kosher, dairy
La Gaterie
La Gaterie serves the epitome of the classical French pastry, light, fluffy and oh so buttery. The croissant come in three sizes, small, medium and large and can be eaten plain or stuffed with a selection of cheeses or speciality salamis. Irene Sharon Hodes recommended this little bakery as one of the best in Israel and she is right. The manager and owner of the establishment, Adi Frishman also supplies croissants to Patisserie in Rehovot. So in fact, although it was my first time in the main branch in Tel Aviv I have been eating their croissants for several years already.
La Gaterie
184 Ben Yehuda, Tel Aviv
phone:03-5224342
Not kosher
Adi Frishman
Excellent croissants in La Lyonnaise in Ashdod
La Lyonnaise
The croissants at La Lyonnaise are excellent but there are plenty of other reasons to visit this Ashdod restaurant and bakery.
Location: Star Center 47, Jabotinsky Road
Tempting cakes at La Lyonnaise, Ashdod
A couple other recommendations from Tel Aviv tweeters, @YaelBeeri and @ahoova include Brasserie Bakery, Cafe Lou and Dallal Bakery.
What French bakery do you recommend?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m intrigued, it may be good with sesame seeds after all. Not exactly croissant but sounds interesting
they are pretty yummy, but not croissants. Middle Easterners love sprinkling sesame seeds on everything
My oh my, those breads and that croissant!! one would think they’re in a Paris bakery. In Morocco too (where I’m originally from), they make the most outstanding viennoiserie and breads. I have my beret on and I’m ready for one flaky, delicious croissant
Oh my!!! I just got back from two weeks in Provence and I miss those croissants so much – I surely will try some of the places you recommended. Thanx muchly
I love that first picture! Croissants are très délicieux,but I have to stay away from them as I avoid now carbs
bonafe rules! we are devoted fans of Nurit.
we really should do a side by side comparision
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