It’s official, I’m a snob.
The reason for this epiphany? The baked goods at Honore. Now, granted, I didn’t try everything. Only four things: the cannele — a tiny custardy bundt shaped goody with gooey insides, the chausse de pomme — essentially an apple turnover, the koign imman — I’ll come back to this, and the almond crossiant.
For the record I get that there are different styles of baking and that just because an almond crossiant is one style, doesn’t make it better. But I am used to an almond crossiant that, when I put it in my mouth I think, “Oh god, this is what heaven tastes like!” The Honore crossaint? It was fine. Crumbly and fresh and buttery flavored. But I did not swoon.
The one that I did really like was the koign imman — that word is pronounced “queen”, FYI. The internet tells me that the koign imman is also known as a Breton butter yeast cake, or a type of scone, but the word scone does not really do it justice. Crispy, buttery, the sugar had carmelized on the outside of the flakey pastry and was there just a tiny bite of salt?
I’m not sure that the primacy of the koign imman warrants a drive all the way to Ballard when we have our own temple of sin a mere two miles away. I hear the macarons are good at Honore and the pinwheel cookies got a glowing recommendation, but they weren’t yet on deck for the day.
If you’re in that neighborhood and you need a snack, sure, go ahead. They’re awfully nice at Honore and they have an adorable back patio. Go directly to the koign imman. Unless you are a snob like me, then I’m sure you will find all of their baking lovely and delicious. It’s not their fault I’ve become a spoiled, obnoxious, epicure when it comes to baking. Really. For that I blame my local bakery and the entire nation of Austria. How can you compete with that?
Honore is at 1413 NW 70th in Ballard. And fun fact? It’s named after Honoratus of Amiens, or Honore, the patron saint of bakers.
Adding it to my list of bakeries-to-visit. Like I need another place to indulge my sweet tooth/baked goods fetish.
Thanks for the review!
good god, thank goodness I don’t live there. I would be eating it all day and night. One thing about costa rica, their bakeries suck! The bread is like paper, really. But i’m very grateful.
Photo Friday – Dominical Beach – The True Surf Town and So Much More!
Oh what a delicious shot!
: )
Now you’ve made me hungry!!!
The problem with trying really good bakery stuff is now your spoiled and will never appreciate the stuff you can get anywhere. After having Croissants in Paris I can’t eat the store bought ones any more.
Yay! I’ll be back in Seattle in a couple weeks and can’t wait to wander out for early morning delights of coffee and bakeries! Mmmmmmm….
YUm. i’d drive anywhere for a good bakery.
For a minute there I thought you were going to be a traitor to our little West Seattle snack shop (Bakery Nouveau to those NOT in the know). Glad you’re still a snob.
I’m pretty picky about pastry any more myself…makes it easy to exercise self control in the face of dry, day-old stuff hanging around in local coffee shops, though.