After many years of grabbing pastries at JJ's Boulangerie, I am somewhat sad to report that I'd rather go to Freed's. My Austrian friend Marcel from Vienna was in town last week, and as good Austrians, we were craving an Austrian Mehlspeise (loosely translated, a pastry) mid-morning on a Sunday. For some reason, I thought Freed's was too far, so we headed to Paris.
JJ's Boulangerie, which shares my initials, is, of course, a charming place; as charming as it can be in a semi-food court inside a casino with fake cobblestone. Still, nice enough. However, I could have sworn that they have less variety these days, and they were out of chocolate croissants, to my huge disappointment. We tried the napoleon and a nice fruit tart instead. The napoleon was a little more dense than I like it (I really enjoy the Mexican version, milhojas, which is always very flaky and light), so perhaps it didn't just come out of the oven. Eating delightful pastries off plastic plates with plastic forks is always a bit of a disappointment (which is why we like The Chocolate Swan at Mandalay Place), but they were still quite good. In spite of its high prices for pastries and coffee (our total: $26) JJ's was completely packed, and it was difficult to score an "outdoor" table, which we finally did. We had a fantastic view of the hungry crowds waiting in line at the buffet. It beats people-watching in St. Germain.
Next time, however, we are supporting one of our favorite local family-owned businesses, which makes the best cakes in Vegas: Freed's. Their new location on Eastern and Richmar even has a few tables.
JJ's Boulangerie, which shares my initials, is, of course, a charming place; as charming as it can be in a semi-food court inside a casino with fake cobblestone. Still, nice enough. However, I could have sworn that they have less variety these days, and they were out of chocolate croissants, to my huge disappointment. We tried the napoleon and a nice fruit tart instead. The napoleon was a little more dense than I like it (I really enjoy the Mexican version, milhojas, which is always very flaky and light), so perhaps it didn't just come out of the oven. Eating delightful pastries off plastic plates with plastic forks is always a bit of a disappointment (which is why we like The Chocolate Swan at Mandalay Place), but they were still quite good. In spite of its high prices for pastries and coffee (our total: $26) JJ's was completely packed, and it was difficult to score an "outdoor" table, which we finally did. We had a fantastic view of the hungry crowds waiting in line at the buffet. It beats people-watching in St. Germain.
Next time, however, we are supporting one of our favorite local family-owned businesses, which makes the best cakes in Vegas: Freed's. Their new location on Eastern and Richmar even has a few tables.
JJ's Boulangerie
Inside Paris Hotel-Casino
--By Judy Jenner
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