Named after an endearing French term that translates to “kiddo,” Pitchoun! has brought a touch of Paris to Downtown. The bakery, which opened last week near Pershing Square, is the work of Paris-trained pastry chef Frédéric Soulies and his wife Fabienne Soulies, who offer a menu of French boulangerie and cafe classics.
While exquisite baguettes with the perfect crust and delicate, buttery pain au chocolat are found on nearly every corner in Paris, that sort of artisanal dedication is less ubiquitous in L.A. The couple hopes that their traditional techniques, along with the space’s French-imported decor and music, will resonate with Angelenos.
“We are passionate about baking and food. We were willing to share this passion and knew we could bring our savoir-faire here,” says Fabienne. “We grow and prepare our own yeast—that makes the difference in bread! ”
The boulangerie/patisserie/cafe offers treats like tarte aux fraises, kouign-amann (a sugar-encrusted, cake-like pasty that’s becoming less of a rarity in Los Angeles) and canelé de Bordeaux—all of their pastries are made rich with 100 percent pure butter. There are also lunch-friendly options like pan bagnat and croque monsieur sandwiches as well as soups, salads, and even French hot dogs wrapped in puff pastry. Downtown’s early risers can also enjoy petit-dejeuner staples from Provencal eggs with fried tomatoes to tartines with ham and brie.
And, in case you need to catch up on your Balzac by the fireplace, there’s also a bookcase filled with over a hundred French books to leaf through. Don’t forget to grab a freshly-baked baguette to tuck under your arm on your way out.
Pitchoun! Bakery, 545 S. Olive Street, 213.689.3240
