bakery/desserts: i strongly recommend BONJOUR

BONJOUR
No. 101, Dunhua S. Road, Sec. 2
(02) 2709-3986

website: e-bonjour.com.tw mostly Chinese

$

Kid friendliness: lots of kid friendly options and samples

Visit reviewed: 1/31/11 (all photos from iphone 4g)

One of the upsides to Taipei is the crazy number of bakeries in town that offer freshly baked breads and sweets everyday- you can’t really walk down the street without passing one and its window of goodies catching your eye. One of the downsides to Taipei is the temptations from all those bakeries and carbs and sugars saying, “Buy me! Eat me! I’m so delicious!”

Eventually, you’ll have a list of your favorites and what’s best at which bakery, like I do. I love the chocolate mini croissants at Mini One. I love the cinnamon buns and chocolate cake at Original Bakery. I love the olive bread and apple tart at Maison Keyser. I love the garlic bread, the mentaiko bread, the sesame soy milk cake, caneles and chocolate ganache cake from Pozzo at San Want Hotel. The list could go on and on- it could fill a book.

So let’s talk about Bonjour.

The first time I tried Bonjour was at its Dunhua Eslite food court location. They had plenty of samples, which soon got me hooked onto their caramelized, crispy pastries, like a round palmier, which you can often find near the counter. They are deadly addictive.

And their onion rolls which are moist to the point of almost being oily, with a crisp crust.

And their delicious caneles which also come in orange and cinnamon flavors at the location near the Diner.

Unfortunately, there’s not much signage in English, but you can read with your eyes and ask questions for things you are unsure of- like these cinnamon buns DO have raisins.

There’s even sampler bags for the indecisive. I remember seeing at the Dunhua Eslite location that they sold day old bread at a discounted price.

You might not love everything you try, but you know a bakery is in your shortlist when you find yourself going back there again and again for those special items. I’ve tried their quiche as well which were quite tasty when warmed up at home. There are decorated cakes at some of the locations as well, though I have yet to try them.

OTHER LOCATIONS

No. 132, Dunhua S. Road, Sec. 1
02-8773-5252

No. 41, XinZhong St.
02-2528-9906

Dunhua Eslite, B2
02-2775-5977#619