The croissant Nazi?

I don’t know about that. After reading about the best croissant in the city, I had to go check out this boulangerie on Ile Saint Louis. That the proprietor was said to be a cantankerous guy, fiercely protective of his goods and pride, made the intrigue that much greater.



But I witnessed no attitude. In fact, Hédi Habhab exhibited the patience of a saint—or at least more than I ever could have—as the tourists tromped in without enough French to say, “Un croissant, s’il vous plait.” I thought I was going to get a side of “mechant” with my baked good. Mais, non.




But what’s important is that the reports on his croissants were accurate: big, buttery, flakey and delicious. And they’re priced right at 90 centimes. I found mine a titch warm at 9 a.m. and weeping through the bag.



(Bonus points for his American patriotism.)



78, rue Saint Louis en l’Ile
4eme