Croissants for a Frosty Morning!

So many people sang the praises of oatmeal on a frosty morning in the previous post, November Morning, that perversely I found myself longing for something totally different. In fact, for a croissant!

But not just any croissant. Such a croissant as I would find in Paris, the kind I swoon over when I see them on blogs such as Paris Breakfasts, where I usually get my patisserie and chocolate fix. This is not a longing easy of fulfillment in New England. But Northampton, MA, is a different kind of place in many ways, and one of those differences is having an authentic Parisian-style café where whoever makes them learned how to make his or her croissants from an actual French baker. No wonder the phrase goes: Vive la différence!

This young woman is actually a Smith College student (or perhaps an instructor?) stocking up on her way to campus, but my goodness, she too is authentic! All that black, the obligatory scarf, a charming feather thing-y in her hair—

And here we are in Paris, while outside across the street begins the campus of Smith College —

The croissants go flying out the door in little brown paper bags in the morning, but I order mine to stay, with its accompanying apricot jam.

Sometimes I think that a really good thin crisp baguette (along with the butter and the apricot jam, bien sûr) is even more uncommon a treat than croissants. Here at 40 Green Street the unknown French baker (so far as I know) also taught the art of baguette-making, because these are the best I’ve ever had outside of France.

So whatever your pleasure — Frank does coffee, I do tea, but you’re welcome to a big cup of café au lait if you prefer — if you’re ever in these parts, come meet me for petit déjeuner at 40 Green Street. It’s a great introduction to Northampton, a quirky, funky, one-of-a-kind kind of town. I’ll be showing you much more of Northampton in posts to come — meanwhile enjoy your breakfast!