From Paris with Love

There’s a hot, new Frenchman in town that has people salivating. Jean-Pierre Sancho, Perth’s first real ‘boulangerie’ has opened its doors at 878 Hay St in the CBD. It’s got quite the illustrious history and has Perth city slickers lining up around the block from about 7am to get their hit of buttery, French pastries and sweets. Looking at them as I drove by they reminded me of the golden ticket winners in Roald Dahl’s famous children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory waiting outside the factory gates to meet the reclusive candy-man Willy Wonka.

Jean-Pierre Sancho’s Boulangerie is an attack on the senses. The smell of freshly baked bread is the first thing that envelops you as you enter the place. It’s also a visual feast. Towers of wholemeal, sourdough, olive, rye, ‘fougasse’, ‘paillasse’, ‘ficelle’ and ‘baguettes ‘ are piled high behind the counter. The ‘viennoisserie’ section is home to a rainbow of lavender, mint and pink macaroons, brioches, chocolate and raisin ‘escargots’, ‘amandines’ (croissant filled with almond paste and sprinkled with toasted almonds and icing sugar), pastel-coloured mousse cakes, chocolate and fruit-laden flans, quiches and sandwiches laid out enticingly in glass-enclosed display cases.

Being in Jean-Pierre’s boulangerie took me on a trip down memory lane. The kaleidoscope of scents, sights and sounds transported me back to a trip to I took to Paris ten years ago. I remembered strolling along the river Seine feeling my soul and loins stir in one of the most romantic cities in the world.

It is a proven fact that as human beings, smell can trigger memories. Amazing to me is how the smell, sight, sound and taste of Jean-Pierre Sancho’s boulangerie had connected me intimately to my past. The contrasting textures and flavours of my crunchy organic, sour-dough baguette against the velvety smoked salmon and tartness of pickled caper berries teased my palate and brought back vivid images of the Sacré-Coeur, the artists’ quarter in Montmartre and walking down the Champs Elysée on a beautiful spring day. The coffee was just as good as the food. Smooth and robust it had the perfect amount of creaminess and pulsed through my veins in a blaze of glory.

French is arguably one of the most romantic languages in the world and let’s face it chicks dig guys that speak French. Enhancing my out-of-body experience were the waiters at Jean-Pierre Sancho who did not disappoint and delivered my order with the right amount of French chic and only a sprinkle of ‘cheese’. Jean-Pierre Sancho is the ultimate French experience and even if I am not hungry I would go back just to listen to the language of love and practice my French.

When you visit Jean-Pierre Sancho, you must go equipped with some phrases to help you have a full service get-away. Having several easy flirting phrases in the French language memorised may even give you more confidence as you participate in your first French conversation. Here are some suggestions:

• Tu es mignon/mignonne. You are cute!
• Tu as des beaux yeux. You have beautiful eyes.
• J'aime votre rire. I like your laugh.
• Vous êtes plus beau/belle que les étoiles. You are more beautiful than the stars.
• Est-ce que tous (toutes) les Parisien(ne)s sont aussi charmant(e)s que vous? Are all Parisians (Canadians, French) as charming as you?
• Tu t'en vas déjà? You're leaving already?

Obviously, just dropping one of these phrases randomly into a conversation isn't really flirting. It's all in how you say it and when you use it. Bonne chance!

Passion Rating★★★★★
Food:★★★★★
Service:★★★★☆
Ambiance:★★★★★
Overall:★★★★☆