About this location
A few stories people tell about this place
1. In the quiet neighborhood of Brooklyn, a regular would often mutter under his breath as he passed La Gourmandine: ‘I’ll never understand why they close so early.’ One morning, though, the bakery doors opened unusually late—and stayed that way for weeks. Finally, one day an irate delivery driver stormed in and demanded: 'Where’s my morning croissant?!' The baker shrugged, ‘We’re closed, monsieur.’ The whole neighborhood erupted in laughter when they saw him ride off on his bike, still clutching an empty box.
2. In the early mornings of New York’s Upper West Side, a mysterious sign appeared on the door of La Gourmandine: ‘Pastries Only for Those Who Can Solve This Puzzle.’ Curious customers tried their luck, but only one regular seemed to understand the secret code. One day, a delivery driver arrived with an especially tricky riddle. By evening, everyone knew that La Gourmandine had a new resident—an enthusiastic parrot who solved puzzles faster than anyone. The sign stayed up, but now it read: 'Pastries Only for Parrots and Regulars.'
3. In the late afternoon shadows of San Francisco's Mission District, a delivery driver wondered aloud: ‘Who keeps leaving those tiny cookies on my bike?’ Curious, he followed the crumbs to an old bakery called La Gourmandine. There, a friendly baker smiled and said, 'Oh, those are our special miniatures—left for you as a thank-you.' The driver laughed, realizing it was just another quirky neighborhood tradition.
4. In a cozy corner of Boston, an elderly neighbor always stopped for a pastry at La Gourmandine. One day, she found herself holding not just her usual croissant but also a tiny, handwritten note tucked inside. It read: ‘For your sweet smile today.’ Over time, other customers started finding notes too—some funny, some romantic, and one even suggested they try the almond croissant with apricot jam. The bakery became known as much for its mysterious messages as for its pastries. Until one day, a delivery driver found a note reading: 'Your beard makes you look like Santa Claus.' Everyone burst out laughing, realizing it was signed 'Love from La Gourmandine'.