The651.com

Picky as I may be, there are not too many pastries out there that offend me. And how could they? Pastries are delicious. This week’s column will highlight some of my favorite St. Paul Bakeries. Some on the radar, some off.

Bread & Chocolate

This Grand Ave staple has been around ever since I moved to Saint Paul as a child in the late ’80s. My mother would take us shopping at the cute boutiques at Victoria Crossing and we’d ritualistically stop into Cafe Latte spin off, Bread and Chocolate, for one of their light-as-air croissants. Aside from the traditional, buttery deliciousness that is the coveted, beloved croissant, Bread and Chocolate is a full-service cafe, offering not only a smattering of fresh baked pasteries, cookies and cakes, but also a gourmet coffee bar that serves fair trade bevies from locally owned Morningstar Coffee Company. Lunchtime is also a treat at B&C, as they serve tasty sandwiches served on Cafe Latte’s freshly baked bread (or on a flaky croissant!). A great place for a lunch meeting, or even just to relax with a book.

Bread & Chocolate, 867 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, 651-228-1017.

P.J. Murphy’s

While the facade of this Randolph Avenue bakery may fool the naked eye or the uppity pastry connoisseur in it’s non-descriptness, the fact of the matter is, is that P.J. Murphy’s is an institution. Nestled into a relatively residential area, the pocket-sized storefront shop boasts bakery cases piled high with all manners of doughnuts, croissants, danishes, caramel rolls, cinnamon rolls, and more. Their cupcakes alone — which come in a variety of flavors including my personal fave, red velvet — command a whole area of their own, tempting you with their thick, creamy frosting in perfectly pretty peaks. P.J.’s also creates glorious custom cakes for special occassions. When it’s all said and done, however, this bakery is a tried and true neighborhood joint, complete with the 6 a.m. regulars and Weekend doughnut-seeking families, that stroll over every Sunday mornin’. A couple small tables and piping hot coffee are available as well, if you’d like to sit down and read the paper while enjoying all the free smells.

P.J. Murphy’s, 1279 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, 651-699-9292.

Trung Nam French Bakery

Ok, so you don’t typically associate the Vietnamese with the French. But you should. You really, really should. Located on University Ave in an old fried chicken fast food joint (which doesn’t appear to have been remodled as much as it should have been), Trung Nam is the cities answer to the most delectable, heavenly, knock-down-an-old-lady-to-get-one-good croissants. Flaky, buttery and fluffy as clouds, peeps regularly buy out this bakery’s croissant stock before mid-morning. The delicate pasteries are stuffed with a wide variety of different flavors including coconut, strawberry, almond, chocolate, apple and more, though a plain croissant is always a winner as well. And that’s not all, Trung Nam also boasts some of the best Banh Mi sandwiches in town; imagine a freshly baked French baguette jam packed with flavorful pork, marinated veggies and jalepenos and served up warm and juicy for less than you’d pay for a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Trust me, you will not regret a stop here.

Trung Nam French Bakery, 739 University Avenue, St. Paul, 651-229-0887. (Cash only)