[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he French know a thing or two about bread. For them, it is more than a piece of dough baked in the oven. For the French, every ingredient, the kneading of the dough, the baking process and the presentation are supremely important. This was demonstrated on the evening of Friday June 22 when Bonne Baguette Bakery Ltd hosted a Fete de Pains Francais, presenting a new range of gourmet French breads to complement its existing line.
Walking into Le Mistral Lounge at Royal Saint Lucia Resort and Spa was like stepping into a bakery paradise. Landmark Events had adorned tables with beautiful arrangements of Bonne Baguette’s breads. Wonderful selections of French cheeses and tapenades were temptingly laid out. Nobody could resist, especially with the selection of wines served by La Cantina Wines.
His Excellency Philippe Ardanaz, the ambassador of France to the OECS countries and Barbados, based in Saint Lucia, addressed the guests, describing how bread and wine are so much more than just food and drink. He explained that, for the French, they are a way to communicate; they are part of the fabric of life. “A day without good bread and wine is not a good day for a French person,” bemoaned the ambassador.
His Excellency confirmed that, for the French, no meal is complete without bread and, of course, it has to be of the highest quality. He commended Riquette Bonne-Smith, the owner/manager of Bonne Baguette Bakery Ltd, on her use of flour imported from France and how she employs traditional French methods in her preparation and baking to ensure that the breads possess an authentic French taste and look. Indeed, he declared Mme Bonne-Smith to be an “ambassador” for France through her breads.
Mme Bonne-Smith is proud that all the artisan breads, plus her pastries and cakes, are made at Bonne Baguette’s own bakery here in Saint Lucia and that the products have no preservatives, chemical additives or colouring. “I love beautiful food and I love to see people enjoy what they’re eating; my breads bring pleasure and are wholesome,” she proclaimed.
Varieties of bread include rustic country, fruits and cereal, olive, ciabatta, baguette viennoise and a selection of rye bread slices and of pan loaves. They are available from the Bonne Baguette Bakery cafe/bistro in Rodney Bay, tel. (758) 450 8306 / 486 5871.
