One of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Paris are the bakeries — the sweet, sweet boulangeries with their baguettes, pastries, and all sorts of dreams. The last time I was in the city wandering around the neighborhood close to the Louvre I discovered Aki Boulangerie. This, my dears, is a Japanese fusion bakery that was as delightful as it was unexpected.

Luckily for me, the bakery was nearby my hotel, so this is where I picked up a few pastries in the mornings. My favorite was the melon pan, which was a semi-sweet pastry that, well, looks like a melon. It’s not flavored like melon, but instead was a crunchy-sweet exterior with a light and fluffy interior. The flavor was like an aery marzipan, if anything.

The thing I loved about this place was that it was a totally unique, at least to me, fusion of cuisines. You had the expertise of the French baker, bonjour, but it was tempered with a variety of Japanese flavors that I don’t usually have access to.

This bakery actually has a variety of eats — there are bento boxes, and sandwiches, which I didn’t sample, but I would give them a go the next time I’m in town. Also on my To Do list are the azuki bean filled beignets. Because they look insane.