I spent a week in Seattle, and there's a burning question I must ask Americans: has... has something happened to your pastries? Should we send help? Some sort of culinary-military intervention for your own good?
Replies
I can't speak for Seattle specifically since it's been a while, but generally there's the generally bad stuff like in your photo, and then there are isolated people who know what they're doing
aug 22, 2025, 4:22 pm • 2 0 • view
As for the non-flaky croissants... sadly common. Costco has made people think that's normal.
aug 22, 2025, 4:47 pm • 1 0 • view
it's the quality of the ingredients, honestly and a fear of the more delicious ingredients like sugar and butter
aug 22, 2025, 9:49 pm • 3 0 • view
It's good that baked goods in the US generally suck, it encourages Americans to travel and appreciate other cultures. (also: often more specifically ethnic bakeries are quite good)
aug 22, 2025, 9:47 am • 3 0 • view
Case in point for Seattle: Larsen’s.
aug 22, 2025, 11:21 am • 1 0 • view
I don't know how ethnic it actually is, but a major exception to my disappointment in Seattle's baked goods was Piroshky Piroshky.
aug 22, 2025, 11:26 am • 7 0 • view
That’s a good place. Generally, you have to go outside of downtown to find better bakeries.
aug 22, 2025, 11:29 am • 2 0 • view
People had a lot of good things to says about Freya, but I didn't make it there.
aug 22, 2025, 1:54 pm • 2 0 • view
Downtown is still recovering from COVID.
aug 22, 2025, 3:01 pm • 4 0 • view
Just look at this. Are any of these baked good actually meant to be appealing or appetizing?
aug 22, 2025, 9:15 am • 10 0 • view
Those berry muffins look like they're screaming in tortured anguish.
aug 22, 2025, 9:47 am • 1 0 • view
The muffins are bad enough - they're each larger than my fist and you can tell just by looking at them that they're mealy and dry. But what has happened to what, for lack of a better word, I am forced to call croissants? Did someone forget that flaky pastry is supposed to, um, flake?
aug 22, 2025, 9:16 am • 11 0 • view
And you might say "OK, but you took this photo at the airport; surely there's good baked goods elsewhere in Seattle". But if there are, I couldn't find them! The typical pastry was a cinnamon roll the size of a small cat that you could just tell tasted of nothing but frosting and baking powder.
aug 22, 2025, 9:19 am • 10 0 • view
I truly believe that if the French government got wind of what's termed a croissant in the great city of Seattle, they would instantly declare war and/or begin humanitarian pastry airdrops.
aug 22, 2025, 9:26 am • 17 1 • view
Although I will say that I have regularly had horrible non-flaky "croissants" in European airports, so this is not just a US problem!
aug 22, 2025, 1:57 pm • 3 0 • view
We do have these places. But the closest to the Con was 2km uphill. bakerynouveau.com/our-creation...
aug 22, 2025, 2:25 pm • 0 0 • view
It really depends on the city and the baker. For example, when you’re in San Francisco, you could try: arsicault-bakery.com There are very few places at airports worth eating at in general, though I did manage to find excellent coffee at the Dublin airport.
aug 22, 2025, 9:31 am • 1 0 • view
Anti-inflation measure?
aug 22, 2025, 9:36 am • 1 0 • view
I have to admit, I was in a proper local bakery in the Midlands yesterday, and by comparison these are looking a bit John Merrick.
aug 22, 2025, 9:19 am • 1 0 • view
There are good places for pastry. I brought some in on Thursday from a local bakery. They are not the norm. It’s similar to the problem with the bread.
aug 22, 2025, 2:23 pm • 1 0 • view
I tried to avoid the halo effect in Europe last year; worked to be objective about the baked goods. They are so much better than most goodies here. A Stockholm 7-11 had exquisite rolls.
aug 22, 2025, 9:10 pm • 1 0 • view
for a long while they've been abjectly terrible. even most bakeries are awful. I don't get it. like okay we can't make a croissant (we just make those abominations). but not even a good muffin? or cookie? disgraceful.
aug 22, 2025, 11:54 am • 1 0 • view
of course there are a few good bakeries in each town (I'm being optimistic about small towns here loll). but I have a short list of places I will go. it's how I got good at baking at home. and sadly I've been told many times my cupcakes are the best someone has ever had.
aug 22, 2025, 11:57 am • 1 0 • view
sad for the state of American bakeries. not sad for me lol. but also because I don't consider myself an exceptional baker. I just complete the recipes successfully. 🤷♀️
aug 22, 2025, 11:59 am • 1 0 • view
now that I live in France. another way you can tell American bakeries are super horrible is the reaction Americans have to French patisseries. not all are good! each bakery has it’s strengths and weaknesses. but most Americans can't tell and think everything is amazing. because it is in comparison.
aug 22, 2025, 12:02 pm • 0 0 • view