Ice Cream in Paris in August

 

On Sunday I set out to go hunting 🔍 doors🚪 

Which turned into an ice cream 🔍 hunt 🍨 

But first the doors - a beautiful door by architect Jules Lavirotte, renown for his Art Nouveau buildings in the 7th arrondissement.

Then I moved on to rue Varenne, loaded with elegant doorways, including door #56 on the PARIS map, Hôtel Gouffier de Thoix from 1725

I was curious to see if it was really that pale, baby blue? It was! Though here is looks sea-foam green 🎨 

Across the street is Edith Wharton’s Paris residence at #53, where she lived for 10 years. The heavily-guarded building on the left is Hôtel de Matignon, residence of the prime minister, which you are not supposed to take pictures of…i.e. the odd angle. You can see the street is empty except for police vans scattered around = Paris in August 🙄

Running around on a summer Sunday afternoon in empty Paris, inevitably brings thoughts of ice cream 🍨 I turned onto rue du Bac, also empty/vide. I was surprised to see 😮 Les Gateaux et du Pain was open. They had ice cream! Plaster models in the window were not appealing.

A closer look at the prices was also not appealing ☹️ Ouch Still I went in to check. A desperate man was buying up 5 cups of ice cream. Not for me👎 

“Once more into the breach”. I have my principles.

Further up rue du Bac, Angelina was open! Dummy ice cream cups in the window/vitrine at a mere 5,50€ ! 🤸🏾‍♀️ The shop was empty. I asked the man,”I guess they are frozen?” (Meaning not fresh-dipped). 

He responded, “Of course they are frozen/congelée”, rather insulted. 

I reflected/réfléchis a bit 🤔…and decided to keep hunting 🔎 

Honestly good doors are easier to find than ice cream in August 😯 

I knew La Grande Epicerie at the end of rue du Bac, had an ice cream chariot out front. YUM YUM

As I was heading there, I spotted LE BAC À GLACES at #109 

Eureka 👍🤸🏾‍♀️🍾 

BERTHILLON may close for the month of August, but Le Bac is going strong all Summer with no days off!

Their ice cream is fait maison/made on the premises and they have only the one shop.

The ice cream chariot has always been their logo

And I Love ❤️ ice cream chariots.

Le Bac ã Glaces is known for their unusual flavor/parfum combinations; raspberry - rose, peach - rosemary sorbets, pear - verbena, apricot - candied ginger, caramel - ginger, date - orange blossom. Now I find they have Camembert!! I wish I’d been more adventurous than plain vanilla + thé vert Matcha 

Plus the price is right - 4€ single

Their name has a double meaning/ une double entendre, since a ‘bac’ is the name of an ice cream bin & they are on rue du Bac.

They opened in 1955 (one year after Berthillon). 

It’s really a neighborhood institution just like Berthillon. They serve food as well. A woman next to me was having a steak.

Well that’s the whole scoop on Le Bac à Glaces🍨 So next time you’re near Le Bon Marché or Grande Epicerie give them a try. Now I want ice cream for breakfast 🍳 

Ice cream is a good idea on a summer Sunday anywhere.

I’m Carol Gillott, an artist living in Paris. Every month I send out beautifully illustrated letters that capture the true Parisian experience. 

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Thanks for reading PB ❤️

☕️ If you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a KO-FI here  ☕️  ❤️ Thank you so much! 

          By the way, Sundays in Paris in August are Kayak days.