何道明 Douglas Habecker
Upon entering Le Beret Bleu, the strong impression that you’re walking into a bakery somewhere in France isn’t a misleading one. The fragrance of fresh baked bread fills the air and a cornucopia of selections fills display cases, as natural light warmly illuminates a relaxing 28-seat interior with wooden tables, chairs and floors. More significantly, French baker Olivier Prieto can often be found working with staff making all-natural “100% percent French products”. Noting that “only the water is Taiwanese”, he uses French flour, salt and butter—plus four of his proprietary yeast cultures—to make his bread in Taiwan’s first-ever Fours Fringand oven imported from France.
A native of the Parisian suburb of Crosne, Prieto’s connection to Taichung is his wife Lai Yi Hsuan, herself a Cordon Bleu trained chef who has worked at 5-6 French establishments, including Alain Ducasse’s Ducasse sur Seine floating restaurant. Collaborating with Yi Hsuan’s sister, store manager Lai Yuan Yu, he focuses on making about 12 daily bread options while his wife offers diners a simple menu that includes a set meal, soups, sandwiches and other selections. From ingredients and packaging to interior décor, they strongly emphasize being eco-friendly and 100% chemical and plastic free.
The NT$690 set includes bread, a soup of the day or salad, and regularly changing main course options like Poulet Basquaise chicken leg stew (NT$560 a la carte) or Beef Bourguignon. Five sandwiches (NT$350-430) include a sandwich of the day, chicken-based Poulet Roti a la Poele, Croque Monsieur, and Jambon-beurre. There are also pumpkin, potato and lenti soups (NT$280-310), a cheese and bread plate (N$420) with three imported French cheeses, and 5-6 kinds of quiche baked by Olivier. These can be enjoyed by coffees and a full range of Balicha herbal teas (NT$90-180).
Many customers stop by to peruse the wonderful selection of bread in all shapes and sizes. Besides the French classics like brioche and baguettes (NT$65 150g, NT$115 300g), many breads include seasonal local fruit. There are also nine beautifully shaped croissant types (NT$65-150), French desserts, cheeses, canelé, cinnamon rolls, cookies and various homemade sauces and jams.
13, AnShun E 6th St, 1F, Beitun Dist
(04) 2243-9869
Hours: Wed-Thu 11 am-7 pm, Fri-Sun 12-8 pm (closed Mon-Tue)
Cash and Line Pay only. No service charge.
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