France Meets Philly At New Gayborhood Bakery J’aime

Philly just got a little more buttery as new French bakery J’aime opened on in the Gayborhood on Thursday.

It comes from French immigrant Bastien Ornando, and is covering broad territory in its offerings. In France, there’s often a distinction between boulangeries (bakeries), which primarily bake bread and often shy away from sweeter fare, and pâtisseries (pastry shops), specializing in sweet baked goods, from cakes to anything with a solid helping of sugar, cream, and/or butter. (In the middle, there’s also viennoiseries — bready but sweeter items like brioche and madeleines, that sit between bread and pastry.)

J’aime is doing both (or all three): French and sourdough baguettes, “Paris Philadelphias” (Ornando’s take on a Paris-Brest, choux pastry traditionally filled with a praline cream), chocolate and lemon tartlets, éclairs. There’s also three types of brioche (plain, sugar, and chocolate), and chocolate and classic croissants.

Not content will all three categories of French baked goods, J’aime is also doing sweet crepes (Nutella fillings available, amongst others). Peep the full menu over here.

J’aime is working with roaster La Colombe to do coffee (including draft coffee options), and will also have fresh-squeezed juices.

It’s all coming out of a very bright space on S 12th Street, complete with outdoor seating area that will be heated through the winter: take a look inside, along with some gratuitous pastry shots.

STATUS — J’aime is open at 212 S 12th Street from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekends.

• J’aime French Bakery [Official]