The Best Pastries in Atlanta
#croissantcontent and beyond
Listen, I never set out to become a pastry influencer (ha) but I'm not displeased at the association now. People send me endless DM's about pastries and croissants in particular. To that end, here are my favorite spots for the flaky stuff around town.
I eat at The Chastain about twice a week because of its proximity to school and I'm always waffling between the equally good breakfast sandwiches and French-style pastries. IDK if they still have it, but there was some sweet salty Argentinean pastry available only on Fridays and it is GOLD.
In Buckhead, I love Le Bon Nosh, Alon's at Phipps, and Little Tart when they are at the Peachtree Road Farmer's Market. (Pro tip my neighbor reminded me about: order ahead on Saturdays.) Henri's has been a staple in my family since I was born, too. Pala is a great secret spot in Buckhead for Italian pastries and it's embarrassing that they know us at Doughnut Dollies and our affinity for its très leches donuts, which are akin to Donut Plant in NYC, one of my absolute end-all-be-all donuts. The preferred way of eating was at Dean & Deluca with a humongous iced tea.
Outside Buckhead, Evergreen Butcher & Baker is worth a trip although theirs are sourdough, so not traditional but still good. We go to MOMO Cafe a lot for their Japanese-style pastries, and I think about the tarte tropezienne a LOT from Saint-Germain (multiple locations). It's a St. Tropez specialty filled with orange blossom pastry cream. (Fun fact I'm a psycho and my favorite Laudrée flavor is orange blossom. It's ok to be horrified.)
In John's Creek, Hen Mother Cookhouse is worth the trip for all the food, including the pastry program. And I am DYING to try Osono Bread, Galette, and Colette Bread when it's ready. I probably will need a whole newsletter devoted to micro bakeries, because I haven't even touched on places like KAISU Bakehouse and At Heart Panaderia.
Oh, and you can find this family at White Windmill more than I care to admit. Places I think about way too much that have closed: Root Baking Co, Proof Bakeshop, and Juniper Cafe. RIP.
Stuff I’m Consuming
One Great Read:
NY Mag, which I read pretty religiously, had the most wonderful article, "How Much is That Lifestyle in The Window?" which drove home two points for me: As a 24-year-old, I was completely delusional thinking that this would someday be my life (I'm ballparking my desired lifestyle around $750K a year based on their calculations) and just how glad I am that I left NYC. I <3 NYC something fierce, but living there is not worth the price. I mean, I used to steal toilet paper from work, that's how poor I was. I enjoy paying for paper products.
EAT: Warm Potato Salad (easy weeknight recipe)
EAT: Lemon Bisque (easy dessert)
WATCH: Beef (Netflix)
LISTEN: Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR)
READ: A Century of the It Girl (NY Mag)
READ: What (or Who?) is Behind RICO? (Atlanta Mag)
I Bought It, and I’m Cheap
Commissionable links
Makeup by Mario Foundation which is light and gets a 100% for being skin-safe from Skin Safe Products; This bonkers dupe for Supergoop Glowscreen–I doubt there's anything E.L.F. can't dupe; hanni's Shave Pillow which allows you to DRY SHAVE (ATL-based!); Lunya's washable silk PJ's that are worth every penny. Random from Amazon are these glass nail files that work wonders and these tissue box covers I can't stop buying.
Hacks, Hacks, Hacks
Everyone tells me I never share hacks because I just don't think of them as hacks, just things I do but here you go: get started with couponing and never pay for toothpaste again; use Digit as an extra savings account for "surprise" money; peel an egg the easiest way I've found. Use ReTold Recycling to recycle things like socks and dishtowels. And if you’re not hoarding Amazon delayed shipping credits to buy books, start now! I haven’t paid for books in years between this trick and the library app.