Best of 2000: Best Baguette

The French Pastry Shop
5550 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla
(858) 454-9094

Why is it so easy to find perfect baguettes in Paris and so hard in San Diego? One exception is the staple bread produced at the French Pastry Shop. The crust is thin and golden and so firm that biting into the heel of one requires strong teeth. Inside the crust, it's a white, yeasty, slightly salty cloud. In the 20-plus years the bakery has been in business, baguette prices have climbed from 50 cents to almost $2. But, hey -- check out current ticket prices to Paris.