on't expect to find traditional
crusty baguettes with a creamy white dough at Boulangerie Simon's stand at the marché.
This baker specializes in pain artisanal -- hefty, country-style breads. Even a
quick stop at their stand will quickly impress you that French bakers not only excel at
making baguettes:
| Pain Rustique, which comes plain or with walnuts, raisins or olives, is a perfect bread to enjoy as toast for breakfast (topped with some of the Boulangerie's confitures!) or on a picnic with ripe cheeses from the marché and a bottle of cold rosé from the Maîtres Vignerons in Cogolin, the best place in the area to buy local wines. |
|
| Pain de Campagne and Pain Rustique de Berger are huge 14" domed rounds that will delight anyone who loves chewy bread. |
On the other end of the baking spectrum, Boulangerie Simon also produces very fine pastries:
 |
Tarte aux pignons: A flaky crust filled with an almond pastry cream and a layer of Boulangerie Simon's own home-made raspberry confiture and then topped with pine nuts. |
| Fondant Châtaignes: A dense cake made of chestnut purée baked in a tarte shell. It's not sweet, but it's elegant and simple. | |
| Tarte Tatin: A classic flaky pastry dough topped with a layer of perfectly sliced caramelized apples, baked to their melting point. |
If you
are tempted by these breads and pastries, a visit to the Boulangerie Simon in la Môle is
a must! At the blue and white shop on the RN 98 about 20 minutes
inland from St.-Tropez, you'll find a very simple bakery that's open 24 hours a day where
you can sample the full range of Boulangerie Simon's breads and pastries. The small shop
adjacent to the bakery has an entire wall lined with doily-capped jars of home-made jams
in fetching combinations:
apricot-ginger
mandarin-mint
blackberry
raspberry and pine nuts
orange-almond
green tomato
gelée made from local wines
Boulangerie Simon's jams are not sold at the marché. So a visit to the shop in la Môle is an essential part of your stay in St.-Tropez. Not only do these jams make wonderful gifts for family and friends, bringing home your own supply helps extend memories of the true artistry of the Boulangerie Simon.
