October 29, 2018

Baguette from L’imprimerie is one of the top contenders. I personally prefer Arcade’s because the crust isn’t so thick, but that’s just a matter of taste. As you can see in the sliced view (swipe), L’imprimerie’s baguette is just as light as Arcade’s—notice the big bubbles. It has a great flavor too.

When I got off at the Myrtle-Wyckoff subway station on the M train, I wasn’t sure whether I was in Ridgewood or Bushwick. I had to consult Google Maps to learn where one neighborhood started and ended. Somehow, in my head, Bushwick was closely tied to the L train, but it’s circumscribed by the L train on the north side and by the J on the south side, and the M runs through the middle of it—swipe to see the map. And, Bushwick is in Brooklyn and Ridgewood is in Queens. After getting off the train, you can walk to Queens or Brooklyn. Of course, this is “Duh!” for many New Yorkers, but I didn’t know.

Queens is full of immigrant cultures whereas Brooklyn is home to many hipsters at the cutting edge of American culture. It is fitting that L’imprimerie is one of the first storefronts you see as you walk into the Brooklyn side. Their logo depicts the face of the owner with the obligatory hipster beard. It’s a great neighborhood that reminds me of the East Village in the 90′s. The bakery is spacious and quiet. I counted four people working quietly on their laptops. Besides the baguettes and croissants to take home, I also got a slice of orange olive oil bundt cake and a cup of tea to stay.

This may only be in my head but when I’m in a Manhattan cafe, there is a constant sense of someone who wants you gone, whether it’s the waiter or other customers looking for seats. The East Village didn’t feel like that in the 90′s—there was plenty of space for everyone, and the rent was low enough that the owners didn’t care either. The vibe of L’imprimerie took me back to those times.

#baguette #bundtcake #nycfoodie #nycbakery #nycbread #brooklyneats #brooklyncafe #bushwick #bushwickeats