June 19, 2013

Le Pain Quotidien




By photographing Brussels' Pain Quotidien at the corner of  chausssée de Waterloo and AvenueLepoutre, semi-hidden behind facade cleaning cloths,  I wanted to  show the diversity of their products but mainly the complexity of selling bread in a bilingual city as Brussels. Who knows the names of all these bread and pastries in two (sometimes three) languages? The saleswoman got very upset - granted, I should have asked permission - because of their no-pictures-policy. I wonder if it is like this in all the Pain Quotidien worldwide? After all, there are now 132 stores in 17 countries and its history only starts in 1990 when founding father Alain Coumont opened his first simple and elegant organic bakery restaurant in Brussels. If you have one of them in your neighborhood and are an amateur photographer, maybe you could put what happened to me to the test?  I would love to find out! "At the center of every Le Pain Quotidien restaurant are long antique-style tables, where strangers can share and enjoy a meal, a style unique to Le Pain Quotidien. The communal tables are made of single pieces of recycled wood, and a tranquil and natural atmosphere serve to bring Belgian air in the comfortable space of Le Pain Quotidien restaurants".
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43 comments:

  1. Janey and Co.June 19, 2013 at 7:16 PM

    Sorry you got caught...I will try myself next time I see one and let ya know...Gee wonder why I am hungry?

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  2. AnonymousJune 19, 2013 at 7:26 PM

    Dat zal inderdaad niet evident zijn en soorten brood hebben ze! Een goede bakkerij.

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 20, 2013 at 10:32 AM

      de verschillende talen maken de zaak interessant maar soms toch ook wat ingewikkeld, ik ondervind het "dagelijk"s ..

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  3. 黄清华 Wong Ching WahJune 20, 2013 at 1:12 AM

    I like a place so well organized. All looks good to eat.

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  4. MichelleJune 20, 2013 at 2:32 AM

    This all looks delicious!

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  5. Rick ForrestalJune 20, 2013 at 2:34 AM

    I'm glad you sneaked the pictures. Such delicious pastries!
    Thanks for sharing . . .

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  6. MaryJune 20, 2013 at 3:08 AM

    Looks scrumptious, and what a charming place. We don't have one here in Oregon, or i would check it out. :) I've never understood, though, why many places have their 'no photographs' policy. What harm does it do?? These are great photos, by the way. I'm glad you were able to take a few..

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 20, 2013 at 10:34 AM

      I think they should applaud the free publicity, Mary!
      thanks for the compliment.

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  7. Taken For GrantedJune 20, 2013 at 4:09 AM

    Great photos from this bakery. Your first photo reminded me immediately of paintings by artist Wayne Thiebaud. He is well known for painting pies and cakes in symmetric patterns. No photography is terrible. Perhaps they think we are stealing their souls?

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 20, 2013 at 10:35 AM

      thanks
      will look up his work, TFG
      they might think that, that would explain a lot :)

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  8. Helen DevriesJune 20, 2013 at 4:18 AM

    I could not believe the quality of Belgian bread...let alone the patisserie...beats France into a cocked hat.

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 20, 2013 at 10:36 AM

      thanks Helen
      as a Belgian, I know it's better to refrain from commenting on your statement :)

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  9. HildaJune 20, 2013 at 6:53 AM

    Oh yum!
    I don't understand why they don't allow photos, though. It's not as if their recipes can be reverse-engineered based on what they look like.

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 20, 2013 at 10:37 AM

      what a lovely term 'reverse - engineering '
      don't you agree that they should welcome the free publicity?

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  10. Pierre BOYERJune 20, 2013 at 7:26 AM

    La décoration de l'intérieur a l'air très sympathique...
    Belle journée,

    Pierre

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  11. DietmutJune 20, 2013 at 9:03 AM

    ik ruik het verse, lekkere brood Anni. Groetjes Dietmut

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  12. claudeJune 20, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    Bonjour Anni
    Cela me donne envie de ressortir ma machine à pain. J'ai acheté pour pain de campagne prête à l'emploi, avec la levure incorporée. J'aime mettre des graines de pavot dedans, cela donne bon goût au pain. Il y a quelques mois j'en ai fait un au chorizo.

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 20, 2013 at 10:39 AM

      Je devrais venir prendre un cours chez toi, Claude!

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  13. biebkriebelsJune 20, 2013 at 12:53 PM

    De geur van vers brood is de allerlekkerste geur die er bestaat.

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 20, 2013 at 1:15 PM

      het ziet er naar uit dat ook onze lezers het daar eens over zijn, Bieb

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  14. BetsJune 20, 2013 at 3:17 PM

    Hallo Anni
    Dat ziet er lekker uit. Ik zou er zo voor naar België komen.
    Groeten Bets

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  15. willyJune 20, 2013 at 5:45 PM

    dat ziet er allemaal "piccobello" uit Anni

    prettige dag

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  16. LiesJune 20, 2013 at 6:29 PM

    Ik zat ooit op het terras te babbelen met de bediende, en 'k mocht fotograferen, Anni...
    http://liesonderweg.skynetblogs.be/archive/2011/06/28/tot-morgen-zelfde-uur-zelfde-plaats.html
    Lie(f)s.

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 22, 2013 at 12:02 PM

      ah ! en dat leverende een buitengewone serie op een prachtreclame voor hen !
      zou het kunnen dat ze een onderscheid maken tussen binnen en buiten op het terras?

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  17. Roger GauthierJune 20, 2013 at 10:42 PM

    Bonjour la Belgique ! Intéressante série. Je peux sentir l'odeur de ce côté-ci de l'Atlantique, je te dis ! J'aime le concept, aussi, comme tu le décris, un peu auberge campagnarde.

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 22, 2013 at 12:06 PM

      ça alors, apprendre qu'un vent favorable a envoyé une odeur outre atlantique! si seulement on pouvait envoyer parallelement une petite bouchée de saveur..

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  18. AnonymousJune 20, 2013 at 11:23 PM

    did they give you a reason for their no-photo-policy? I wonder... should be in their interest if people spread the word, no?

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 22, 2013 at 12:06 PM

      no they did not
      if they had, I would have mentioned it or worse, started a discussion with them...

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  19. FransJune 21, 2013 at 7:13 AM

    Hallo Anni,
    Ze hebben hun "concept" goed wezter uit te bouwen. Maar wat brood en "pateekens" betreft zijn we hier in de streek heel goed verwend met met liefst twee vermaarde bakkers in Tancremont waar de "roue de charrette" vlot over de toog gaat!

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 22, 2013 at 12:08 PM

      ik heb jullie roue de charrette nooit gezien of geproefd
      hoe jammer
      ik zie nu, al googlelend, dat het echt bijzonder is
      misschien, in afwachting van mijn expeditie naar Tranchemont, kan je me een fotootje sturen, Frans
      dan maak ik de nodige pub voor jullie bakkers .

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  20. Mamma Che Paura!June 21, 2013 at 2:12 PM

    I have that very Le Pain Quotidien nearby. When I will go there next time I will try to photograph..

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    1. This is BelgiumJune 22, 2013 at 12:09 PM

      ah, so we must be neighbors, I am very curious to see what you find out! l mi fai sapere per favore.

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  21. FilipBlogJune 23, 2013 at 6:50 PM

    Lekker die gebakjes.

    Groetjes,
    Filip

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  22. VagabondeJune 24, 2013 at 4:40 AM

    We do not have any in the south but I have seen one in New York. It must smell so good in there!

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  23. LindaJune 28, 2013 at 11:00 PM

    I've eaten breakfast at a branch in Brussels, and very good it was too. But I don't understand the 'no pictures' policy. Like other commenters, I would have thought that free publicity could only be a good thing.

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