About: bakery, french, misheel, Ulaanbaatar
This review was written by Christopher de Gruben for City Night magazine in August 2009.
Hidden amongst all the glitzy and fancy new coffee shops is an old UB institution, Michele’s bakery or rather as it is commonly known: the French Bakery. This is a little corner of France in a foreign field, filled with pain au chocolats, real baguettes and an authentic French man behind the counter.
While the French Bakery does not have the best coffee in town, the most comfortable chairs, the best view or even the best service there is something there that makes it unique. It seems that the French Bakery takes a sneaky pleasure in being hard to find, it is hidden behind Peace Avenue, just behind the cashmere house with a red terrace.
While its marketing effort is hard to define, it makes finding this charming little shop one of life’s greatest pleasures. The Bakery is the favorite headquarters of the young French community of UB, no doubt busy planning the next social revolution….
Alex, the owner, will gladly welcome any visitors to his shop with a dose of real friendliness, and happily serve you a small taste of France. The premises are not pretentious but attention is given to quality, the bread is baked fresh on the premises every day (and it shows). The new arrival of Bernard, the new French baker holds many new promises for the bakery. Long baguettes are a recent addition, what will be new on the menu this week? In addition to the basic croissants and baguettes, Alex also serves pancakes, burgers (his only concession to American culture) and various other hot dishes.
The French Bakery is one of the most essential and rewarding stops for any traveler or indeed any expats in the city, it is the chance for anyone to escape the busy and demanding life of Mongolia for just a little time, to soak up this real French atmosphere, have a delicious croissant and get ready for the next installment of UB life.
About: bakery, french, misheel, Ulaanbaatar
