La Baguette Magique
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t’s a typical weekday morning in a French bakery: the air smells of sugar and butter, the sound of the mixer is lulling early risers into daydream, and, back in the kitchen, a baker readjusts a white apron around her waist. At the communal table, a young mother hands a small brioche to her child, while a suited attorney bites into a baguette sandwich. The scene could be set in Paris but make no mistake, you’re at La Baguette Magique, an artisan bakery located in the heart of West Chester. Three years ago, owner Catherine Seisson left the pharmaceutical industry in her native France to open La Baguette Magique on Market Street. She envisioned it as a classical French boulangerie where local francophiles and artisan food supporters would connect and gather over their love of fresh breads. “My vision was to create a very open space. I wanted the bakery to open onto the street and for the customers to walk in and see the production.” If you peeked through the window at night, you’ll see doughs rising while the city’s asleep. The breads are made
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daily using sourdough starter, which imparts a deep, complex flavor. With its soft interior hiding under a golden crust, the baguette carries a strong appeal to the French expats yearning for a taste of home. You’ll also fall for the nuttiness for the spelt bread, the slight sourness of pain de campagne, and the many variations around the bread of the month. The close contact with customers fuels Catherine and her hard-working staff. That’s why, in addition to hosting monthly French story time and French conversations, she recently started hosting baking classes for small groups. “Bread kept me grounded at a time when I needed something to hold on to,” she explains. “I want to provide that to people.” Weekend mornings are the perfect time to taste the magic of the bakery. Sit at the counter and indulge in people-watching as you sip your black coffee. As the croissant dissolves into a million buttery flakes, close your eyes and pretend you’re in Paris.
La Baguette Magique 202 W Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382 magicbaguette.com 610-620-4729