October 1, 2003
The Magic Baker's Store
Last weekend, while I was in the 1st arrondissement to buy kitchenware, I suddenly remembered my grandmother telling me about a professional baking supplies store she used to go to when she was still baking for four sons.
The store is called "G. Detou", which happens to be a pun, and I can't decide whether it is completely lame, deliciously old-fashioned, or just cute: "G. Detou" sounds like "J'ai de tout", meaning "I have everything". So you tell me: is it a coincidence and the store's founder's first name was really Gilles or Gérard? Or is it a pun? And if so, corny or charming?
Anyhow. Unable to remember where the shop was, I gave Maxence a call so he would yellow-page it for me, and I was amazed when I finally located it, right in the middle of rue Tiquetonne, which I'd walked up and down countless times without ever noticing this jewel was there. I really don't have an explanation other than that there is magic at work here -- you know, this little nook of a place that thou shalt see only if thy heart is pure and thy desire to buy baking supplies in bulk is earnest.
And mine were, I think, so I walked in to discover this old-fashioned store, presided upon by a moustachioed attendant in a blue coat, who was -- and I'm not making this up -- drinking champagne with two giggling salesladies. They were no doubt celebrating some kind of special bulk flour holiday (mark your calendars, apparently it takes place every year on September 20).
Or maybe that's just what magic store attendants do, drink themselves giddy on bubbles while customers browse around. And there is indeed plenty to gape at: giant boxes of candied violets, brick-sized blocks of bittersweet chocolate, buckets of caramel syrup, humongous bags of slivered almonds... A baker's dream come true.
After debating with myself awhile, I decided I couldn't buy it all just yet (I had to ride the bus home, you see) and, marveling at my self restraint, I set my heart on an industrial-sized can of nonstick baking spray (labeled "for professional use only", go figure) and a large bag of the coarse sugar I'd been looking for all over so I could bake me some chouquettes.
More G. Detou pictures : a closeup of the left window, a closeup of the right window and broader view of the store.
G. Detou
58 rue Tiquetonne
75002 Paris
01 42 36 54 67
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Comments (10)
Permalink | Posted by clotilde in Paris City Guide - Shopping
et ben ma belle, encore une fois je suis bluffée!
Posted by Loli on October 18, 2003 12:56 PMc'est un très joli site, je vais bien m'amuser cet aprem à lire tout ça!
par contre, je ne sais pas si c'est mon ordi, mais les liens en vert sur les cotes sont écrits tout petits petits. mais je vais plisser les yeux, ça vaut la coup!
je suis très admirative de ton travail. je t'embrasse fort
Ma Laurence!! Vous ici! Quelle joie!
Posted by clotilde on October 19, 2003 11:39 AMJe suis ravie ravie que ça te plaise!
Pour les liens tout petits, c'est probablement un problème de browser : sous Mac, les implémentations sont un peu fantaisistes parfois... As-tu essayé de changer la taille de la fonte dans ton navigateur?
Plein de bisous,
Clo.
Just a short note to let you know that the postal code in the address above is incorrect: 75001 --> 75002.
Love your blog.
Cheers
Posted by Breeze on October 11, 2006 4:55 AMHi Clotilde... was just about to shoot an email to you asking for such shop in Paris (we're making a short trip in May). And here it's, voila! i'll try and check it out.
Posted by Latha on April 30, 2007 11:35 AMMy husband got me some chocolate ganache drops when he was last in Paris, but now I am running out and I am starting to panic! I don't know how long I can go without zucchini chocolate cake....
Does anyone know if they would mail some to me if I asked them to?
Posted by Christina on August 25, 2008 2:41 PMClotilde,
your blog is a pleasure to read.
I'm rediscovering delights of old and discovering sure favorites of the future.
KB
Posted by Katey B on September 20, 2008 2:32 AMYes, this is a great little place. I am currently halfway through one of their 3 kilo sacks of Valhrona buttons and don't know how I managed to fund my chocolate habit without them. They are acting as my next excuse to visit Paris
Posted by Paula on December 2, 2008 12:58 PMG. Detou/J'ai de tout is definitely charming!
Posted by Lydia on January 4, 2009 1:02 PMBut I'm English so what would I know?
I have been reading and enjoying very much for a while but haven't commented so thought it was about time...
Merci bien Clotilde!
Ho Clotilde, I will be in Paris in a few weeks, and would like to meet you:-) i am about to start a blog and am a devotee. Could you also ell me where i can find nice honey in Paris - i'll be staying at Saint Germain. Cheers. Ozoz (i am Nigerian,mother of 3 and a geologist who loves cooking!) take care
Posted by O on February 12, 2009 8:24 PMI recently shopped here for the first time as well and it is indeed a baker's paradise. I came home with 4 kilo bags of powdered sugar, vanilla beans in bulk, cream of tartar (still trying to figure out which of my recipes call for this but since I haven't seen it elsewhere figured Id take some), discs of Valrhona in bulk and some of the aforementioned candied violette. I noticed they had a second shop a little farther up the street that was more traiteur-style with terrines of foie gras and the like in the window (at least I think the awning also said G Detou). Anyway, I will be returning soon!
Posted by Little Miss Cupcake on March 1, 2009 11:28 AM