Boulangerie BO – rue de Charenton

The corner façade makes BO a bakery to notice before you reach the counter. Dark panels and gold decoration frame the windows, while the arched entrance and the shop’s tiled interior preserve the character of an older Paris food business. The breads and pastries belong to an active neighbourhood shop, rather than a historic interior set aside simply to be admired.

Sourdough bread and inventive pâtisserie

Benoît Gindre and Olivier Haustraete took on the rue de Charenton bakery with a shared interest in bread and pâtisserie. Sourdough loaves form an important part of the range, from country-style bread to versions with fruit or other additions. A cut loaf reveals the difference between its crust and crumb, making bread a worthwhile purchase in its own right rather than just the carrier for a sandwich.

The pastry counter gives the visit another direction. Creations such as Mont Azuki, a Japanese interpretation of Mont Blanc, and a baba combining orange, dates and orange blossom show the range of flavours. These illustrate the kitchen’s willingness to take familiar French pastry forms towards different flavours. They are examples of the style rather than a guarantee that the same cakes will be in the display on a particular morning.

Bakery shopping beside Aligre

Viennoiseries and smaller baked goods make an easier stop when a long walk follows. More fragile pâtisserie suits a shorter journey and a place to eat it soon afterwards. The setting encourages a look around the shop as well as into the case: decorated walls, the window display and the pavement outside connect the food to its location on the corner.

BO is especially useful beside a visit to Aligre. The market can provide cheese, fruit and suitable ready-to-eat items, while the bakery adds bread and a sweet finish. The two places are close enough to combine without turning the shopping into a transport exercise. The nearby Coulée verte then offers a planted walk above the streets, with a small bag of purchases easier to manage than an elaborate picnic requiring plates and refrigeration.