.JPG)
The newest entry is Tous les Jours, another of the chains selling Korean variations on French pastries along with coffee and other items. The sign is up in the shopping center with Boston Market and Lighthouse Tofu on the north side of Rte 40 west of Rte 29. Tous Les Jours will be perpendicular to Rte 40.
These bakeries do really interesting sweet pastries and coffee drinks. They generally have other desserts, some savory pastries, and sometimes broader menus. In Seoul, people seemed to call them "coffee shops." On our first trip, we stayed in Gangnam and walked past multiple coffee shops on busy blocks. Mostly chains that haven't come to DC-Baltimore.
But we have had Korean bakeries since I moved to Howard County. The first that I remember was La Boulangerie in Ellicott City. Then we had Bon Appetit and Shilla. Now, the Korean chains seem to be coming -- first Caffe Benne that will open next to Soft Stuff and now Tous le Jours. Mrs. HowChow really wants Paris Baguette. We have enough that I created a new tag so you can pull all the posts about Korean bakeries.
The broad read is probably smart. I have found some cool things in different bakeries. But I'm not an expert, and their menus overlap enough that you can probably scan all the posts and then look around any of the bakeries. These are great places to check out on a chilly afternoon. They're very friendly, and they are really more like coffee shops where you can sit with friends, kids or just a book.
Can anyone recommend a specific bakery -- or better yet specific items at different ones? We have become infatuated recently with Shilla, especially the sweet potato latte.
It may be an unpopular opinion but it seems like overkill to me. Too many within a small area!
ReplyDeleteI've been to the Tous Les Jours in NYC and really enjoyed it. I'll generally stop in it to grab something for the train ride home. The range of products is slightly different from Shilla. I recall the pastries being slightly more French influenced and buying some tasty premade sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteLeeann,
ReplyDeleteI agree, and don't think it's an unpopular observation at all.
I agree too, Leeann, it's definitely too many within that one area.
ReplyDeleteAlso, has anyone else checked out Snow Cafe on Frederick Road in Ellicott City (previously Waffee Comzytime), near the Rita's? I was there a couple weeks ago and had some snow ice with friends. Snow ice is kind of like flavored shaved ice with toppings similar to froyo. Snow ice has a slightly creamy fluffy consistency, and I think it originated in Taiwan some years ago.
There used to be a stand at the Montgomery Mall in Bethesda that served the same thing but closed at least a year ago.