Croissants at Mrs. London's
The forbidden fruit is twice as sweet.
Some of you may know that currently we are in the midst of Passover. And that means for those who are observing the holiday, the classic croissant at Mrs. London's is entirely off limits.
But it sure is gorgeous isn't it.
Regardless of if you can wait until the holiday is over or not, this amazing amalgamation of flour and butter can be found at what some have postulated is the "most fabulous bakeshop" in America. Their ability to achieve such stunning results on this classic French pastry is just one reason why Mrs. London's gets my vote for the best bakery in the Capital Region.
Still, I'm amazed at how many people stare blankly at me when I tell them about a place up in Saratoga Springs called Mrs. London's. Many have never heard of it, and others have just never been. Unless you suffer from Celiac disease or have severe gluten intolerance, this is totally inexcusable.
It's sad what passes for a croissant these days, and it's great to find one bakery that is holding the line.
There's no getting around the fact that croissants aren't good for you. They are full of refined white flour and fat. Sure, some people might eat them every day, and I envy those people more than they will ever know. But for most of us, croissants are a sometimes treat.
As such, when you have one, it should be special. And to qualify as such they have to deliver on three fronts: taste, texture and appearance.
What does a good croissant look like? Well for starters, it's small. Plus, the outside is well burnished and hints at the multitude of light and fluffy layers that are inside. Despite being small, a good croissant will have some height to it, given how much air is contained within.
Biting into a croissant should send shards of the exterior crust flying. Even though a croissant is baked, the edges of a well-made one suggest that perhaps it was fried in butter -- they are beyond crisp; they crackle. The interior should both easily coalesce under your bite, but then spring right back up into its original shape.
And the taste is all butter.
Mrs. London delivers the goods. And all of that pleasure comes at the paltry sum of $2.75. For anyone who has ever tried to make one of these from scratch, the value of such an exchange is self-evident. Making good croissants is hard. It takes a lot of butter, time, and skill to make them well. And this is a pittance to pay for something so delicious. Plus you get to enjoy them in a precious setting, at a table and on a proper plate.
Mrs. London's also makes a very special hot chocolate, which is the natural accompaniment to a classic croissant.
Yes, it's totally decadent. But that is exactly the point.
Daniel B. is the proprietor of the FUSSYlittleBLOG.
Find It
Mrs. London's
464 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
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Comments
I love Mrs. London's -- and the rest of their offerings are just as good. Last time I went, I had an apple tart that was flaky and sweet and just perfect. The time before, I had a scone that was probably the best scone I've ever had. And their sandwiches make a great lunch (or really late breakfast, as is usually the case for me).
... said KB @ Home-Baked Happiness on Apr 10, 2012 at 12:41 PM | link
mrs. london's does make great baked goods, however, $5 for a baguette, $7 for a ciabatta loaf, and almost $3 for a croissant is way too expensive. when bakeries in nyc are cheaper than this, it is too much
... said jen on Apr 10, 2012 at 12:42 PM | link
$3 is too much for a croissant? I'll echo Daniel B himself by saying "this is why we can't have nice things."
... said ethan on Apr 10, 2012 at 1:03 PM | link
@jen They can charge those prices because there is no one (and I do mean no one) in the capital region that makes better bread and pastries. There is simply no competition.
In the city, I can go into almost any given neighborhood and find bakeries that are churning out fabulous product on the regular. Not so in upstate NY.
... said Jennifer on Apr 10, 2012 at 1:03 PM | link
> What does a good croissant look like? Well for starters, it's small.
No, it's not.
... said -S on Apr 10, 2012 at 1:33 PM | link
It should be mentioned that they have a table at the Troy Farmers' Market.
... said Kris10 on Apr 10, 2012 at 2:30 PM | link
@ethan - Credit for that line goes to B who said it during the discussion of Carmine's new Brazilian place. For the record, I actually don't agree.
Nice things need not be expensive. And yes, the breads and some of the other items at Mrs. London's are quite pricey. But $2.75 for one of these magnificent croissants is a bargain, especially when one considers that people will fork over more than $3 for a cupcake!
I have no idea how much a venti-low-fat-blueberry-latte-no-whip costs. But I'm guessing substantially more than this hand crafted piece of fine pastry.
Some things are worth their cost, for the labor, ingredients, skill, and specialized equipment that goes into their production. These croissants qualify. Yes, you can get cheaper croissants that are just fine. But I would be amazed if anyone could name a bakery in this country that made a better croissant than this for significantly less money.
La Farine in Oakland makes some solid ones. They are a little less money (about $2), but aren't quite as good
Regarding size, pastry has crept up in size much like bagels have. Most of the croissants sold today are these gargantuan creatures. Small does not mean minuscule.
... said Daniel B. on Apr 10, 2012 at 2:57 PM | link
Most Saturday mornings I have somewhere between half and a whole one of these croissants at the Troy Farmers' Market. I really haven't found a better croissant in this area. I've looked.
... said Ginny on Apr 10, 2012 at 4:09 PM | link
> Credit for that line goes to B
This is actually a meme.
> But $2.75 for one of these magnificent croissants is a bargain, especially when one considers
> that people will fork over more than $3 for a cupcake
I'm not sure about justifying an overpriced item by pointing at another overpriced item. Let me get back to you on that.
> you can get cheaper croissants that are just fine. But I would be amazed if anyone could name
> a bakery in this country
In this country? Daniel, why stop there, and not include the continent, nay, the world. Are you sure the croissants at Miss London aren't spiked with dehydrated kool-aid?
> that made a better croissant than this for significantly less money.
The croissants at Crisan on Lark are great, bigger, for $1.75. They are the best in the Milky Way and I'm backing that up with one thing that is common to Daniel's own argument and croissants: lots of hot air.
No, they are just my favorite, that's all. You won't be disappointed by Miss London's offering, but if you live in Albany, consider the gas prices. Madeline Miller-Delosh of Mado Patisserie in Chatham taught a hands-on croissant-making class at the Williams-Sonoma store a few weeks ago, she has the goods and she knows a thing or two...
PS: the reason why you might not want small croissants (and why they are bigger in that obnoxious country across the Atlantic ocean that shall not be named), is because the thinner they are, the less you get to experience the change of texture through the fluffy layers, from the crackling crust that comes from the egg wash down to the much tender/doughy/buttery interior (did I just write that?). Since a croissant has tapered ends, the smaller they are the greater the chance you end up with burnt or boring extremities (cue extremity joke). Makes sense, but hey, I'm not a foodie, I just have a sweet problem.
... said -S on Apr 10, 2012 at 4:35 PM | link
A few years back Food and Wine magazine declared Mrs. London's the best bakery in North America. Nothing has changed.
... said jazzngas on Apr 10, 2012 at 5:08 PM | link
I adore their almond croissants. I get one for lunch almost every Saturday at the Troy farmers' market.
... said Megan M on Apr 10, 2012 at 5:59 PM | link
Most things at Mrs. London's are great, including the croissants. And to my knowledge, Mrs. L's is the only place to get great bread in the Capital Region (good bread can be had from All Good Bakers).
But the croissants at Crisan are superb, and cheaper, and closer.
... said Jason on Apr 11, 2012 at 10:02 AM | link
One might even say that something that is excellent, relatively inexpensive, and close to home, could be called the "best". For oneself. And one's dead horse, that one is viciously beating.
-S, Y U NO let me take credit for meme? U mad?
... said B on Apr 11, 2012 at 10:39 AM | link
I love Crisan. Their croissants are much improved from when the bakery opened, but the exterior is still a little sandy and doesn't quite shatter. Still, they are among the few croissants that are totally worth the fat and calorie hit.
We are very lucky to have such rivalries in the region.
I stand behind the assertion that the Mrs. London's version is superior (if only marginally). With gas at $4 per gallon it may not be worth a drive for the croissants alone. But if you've only had the Crisan version, it's worthwhile to give these a go next time you find yourself in Saratoga Springs.
... said Daniel B. on Apr 11, 2012 at 7:51 PM | link
What's closer depends upon where one lives. I lived in Albany for most of my life. The last seven, nearly eight years in downtown Saratoga. Mrs. London's is one of the many reasons I'm happy here. If we had remained in Albany I would undoubtably be happy as well. What this means to me is that this region has a lot to offer especially for those of us that appreciate an urban lifestyle.
... said jazzngas on Apr 11, 2012 at 9:33 PM | link
Their almond croissants are extraordinary. They are $3.75 each, and worth every penny.
... said Annie W. on Apr 11, 2012 at 9:46 PM | link
>They are full of refined white flour and fat.
Refined as in not high protein flour, yes. But croissants can still be made from wonderful unbleached organic flour so you can feel virtuous while clogging your arteries.
Also, great photos. You have a new camera? Tell us about it!
... said Burnt My Fingers on Apr 12, 2012 at 9:11 PM | link
Excellent column, Ce ce bon Croissant!
... said mg on Apr 13, 2012 at 1:39 AM | link
Finally got to try the croissants at Cafe Le Perche in Hudson yesterday (the things I do for science): they are huge, $3, and to me the "best" you can get 45 minutes around Albany. Crackling on the outside, fluffy/buttery inside, and good value for $3. Try :)
... said -S on May 20, 2012 at 9:27 PM | link