Green is the New Blog

Green…the color of luck, the color of money, green with envy, a green thumb, Kermit the Frog, the sexy green m&m….all great reasons to be fond of being green, but we’re talking about the idea of lightening our carbon footprint, putting things in the right container (Blue? Green? Black?) and in general, using less…using only what we need...and prolonging the life of the planet.

In an attempt to carbon tip-toe, and hopefully set the example, we are upping the ante by becoming “green certified.” Our Cole Valley and Noe Valley stores have already passed the test. This title requires a little work up front and a process of approval, but once our stores come out on the other side, they are basically biodegradable. Not really, but close. We already recycle or compost almost everything. Our paper products and to-go containers are all ready for a green or blue bin, our light bulbs burn less energy, our toilets flush with less water, plastic to-go bags are a thing of the past. Behind the scenes, our checklists are laminated so they get wiped clean and used again and all of our cleaning products are environmentally friendly. Soon, the rest of our stores will be green certified, too.

When all is said and done, we hope that folks will see our efforts, appreciate and think about their own footprint, and pay it forward with their own habits, or look for other businesses that are making the same strides.

Go Long

So, with Superbowl Sunday fast approaching, we couldn’t help but try and think of ways to franco-fy what is probably one of the most American days of the year. “Football,” with players padded from head to foot, and as much commercial airtime as there is actual game-play, it’s tricky for ze French to wrap their brains around. However, it is also a day centered around getting together with friends and enjoying some good food and drink, which we can certainly get behind.

Enter….Le Superbowl…(let’s say it together….luh……soo-pearh.…bowl) Tres Bien! So we took our baguettes, made one loooong sandwich, and paired it with our house-seasoned chips and some Dame Blanche (petite cream puffs filled with whipped cream), which, let’s face it.........are a touchdown in anyone’s book.

So, whether it will be the Saints or the Colts for the win (we’re not choosing sides), we intend to be well fed and content watching the festivities in South Florida on a big screen somewhere. And like all of you, I’m sure, hoping that The Who does not suffer from any wardrobe malfunction.

It Just Takes One

One voice, one idea, one person to start something good, and to build the momentum it takes to make something happen. And then one calls another one, and pretty soon, you’ve got eleven…Boulanges that is…coming together to do something big.

When Callie, one of our employees, approached me and told me she was thinking about the situation in Haiti and really wished there was something she could do to help, she had the idea that she could donate a day’s worth of her tips to help in the relief efforts. And then thought, what if the whole team donated a day of their tips? And then what if all of the teams at all of the Boulanges donated a day of their tips….that would be something. So I told her to ask her team….see what they say, and I would help by putting feelers out to the other stores and I’d let her know what kind of feedback I got. I was touched by Callie’s idea and overwhelmed by our staff. I sent an email to managers at each of our stores and throughout the day received calls, texts and replies that yes! The staff was totally into it.

So now we pick a day and go for it….what day should we pick? A day where we’re busy and get a lot of tips! Sunday! Who should we donate to? After a little research, we’ve decided to contribute to Doctors without Borders. Callie likes them because they have been in Haiti for 19 years and know the systems and have some roots established and they need the funds to keep doing the work that is needed so much now that crisis has struck. And to add a little fuel to the fire, La Boulange is going to match what the staff earns that day.

So when you are on your Sunday stroll, recovering from a Saturday in San Francisco, come on in and know that whatever you give the staff that day in thanks for their smile and service, will be doubled and shipped, on the double, to a great cause.

The Twelfth Night...

Most of us have slipped back into the daily grind of things at this point. The new year has started, and everyone has turned over a new leaf…if you need evidence of this, just go to any gym at 5:30 and wait your turn for the elliptical with the rest of us. But for Frenchies and Francophiles alike, today, the Epiphany, is the official close to the holiday season. Traditionally, the Epiphany is intended to celebrate the "shining forth" or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus. The feast is also called Twelfth Day, as it is the twelfth day after Christmas, or Three Kings Day, because as the story goes, it is the day the three kings visited the baby Jesus. And to celebrate this, many tables this evening will be completed by the Galette des Rois, a golden crown of puff pastry filled with almond cream. A tiny feve, or trinket, will be secretly placed inside and the lucky family member who finds this prize will be crowned “king for a day.” And think of all of the fun that this implies. So if you aren’t quite ready to accept the new year and need one more reason to celebrate, or if you just want to try your chances to win the right to rule the roost, and claim control of the remote, then you know where to go to get your very own Galette.

A Month of Resolutions

Kisses at midnight, Auld Lang Syne, black eyed peas for good luck…..and resolutions. I’m not really sure what happened to 2009, but in mere days we’ll be ringing in the new year. And since everyone is thinking about what they want to accomplish in 2010, we came up with a list of ideas…a whole month of them. And we’ll be tweeting them to you daily in January (starting January 2nd). We hope everyone will want to resolve to come in and check out some of these great and delicious deals. Follow us on twitter @laboulange, retweet to all of your friends and look for the buzz words you’ll need to know each day to collect on fun resolutions like these:

Resolve to eat dessert first! Today, purchase one regular entrée (salad or sandwich equal or greater than $8) and we'll give you a slice of our Galette des Rois

Resolve to use less gas! Today, show us your valid muni pass or bus transfer and we’ll give you 10% off your total purchase.

Follow us on twitter!

Impromptu....

‘Tis the season of potlucks and cocktail parties all played to the tune of Chestnuts Roasting. If you are like me, the holiday season kind of showed up out of nowhere. Wasn’t it just summertime? And now there are lights in all of the trees and garland in the windows. Not to be outdone by all of the other party planners in my life, I intend to throw an “ugly Christmas sweater” themed shindig that would blow Martha out of the water. At the Block Party on Hayes, I picked up the perfect little tree, which we’ve trimmed to perfection. We’ve decked our halls and composted the pumpkins that were lingering in the entryway and I have a great playlist of festive tunes. The problem…my calendar is rapidly filling and who has time to cook? Enter my holiday hero….catering.

So, from the comfort of my living room, I peruse the menu online. It looks like La Boulange…..It tastes like La Boulange….but its La Boulange Catering…and alongside some of my favorite pastries and salads are an array of treats and bites that will knock my party-goers’ socks off. The menu of my party, decidedly a little bit more upscale to counteract the bad clothing and “small apartment décor” will be a mix of hors d’oeuvres and specialties:

Petite Gougères
Butternut Squash & Goat Cheese Crostini
Brioche Tea Sandwiches
prosciutto and fig

Charcuterie & Cheese
served with organic baguette, Dijon mustard, cornichons and mixed olives
Smoked Trout Salad
Apple, potatoes, avocado, walnut croutons, greens, citrus vinaigrette served with organic bread

French Sweets Basket
An assortment of Chocolate Fondant, Financiers, Madeleines & Canneles de Bordeaux
Dame Blanche
Petite cream puffs filled with whipped cream, topped with course sugar

Trés magnifique, n’est-ce-pas? I click my mouse and complete my order and all of this is delivered to my door, wrapped adorably in super cute packaging and ready to impress my salivating sweatered guests. Rachel Ray…Move out the way.

Let's Celebrate the Season

Thanksgiving: over. Christmas: not here yet. But it’s Friday night and you’re feeling merry. It’s time to channel your inner child and get excited. The shops are all lit up in pretty white lights and we’re feeling festive. Already the place to be, complete with delicious food stops, galleries, design stores and boutiques that would make anyone’s home and closet the envy of all their friends, Hayes Valley is kicking it up a notch to start the holiday season off right with the annual Holiday Block Party. A long running tradition, everyone who’s anyone should come and strut their stuff in trendy Hayes Valley tonight and check out what San Francisco’s perfectly posh have in the way of holiday spirit.

And when the chill in the air gets to be a bit too much, come cozy up in our corner with hot apple cider or a bowl (oh yeah!) of hot chocolate. Listen to some carols and savor the sweets of the season.