Cebu-grown bakery and wine cellar captures Parisian life
With its proximity to the TV network stations, some celebrities also visit the Rembrandt Hotel branch.
Originally from Lahug, Cebu City, the second branch of the French bakery and wine cellar “La Vie Parisienne” (“Life in Paris”) opened recently at the Rembrandt Hotel in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
The bakery evokes memories of quaint shops around Paris and boasts a wide selection of French wines.
According to Team Leader Marechille Hipolito, the business is a partnership between Frenchman Louis Thevenin, Consul General Michel Lhuillier, and RJ Obiedo. The original Cebu main branch was set up in April 2013. It is affiliated with another bakery, s “Chateau de France” selling breads and other selections in five SM supermarket branches.
All bakery products are imported from France. Hipolito explains, “We bake every day to retain freshness of the bread. If we don’t sell the breads on the same day, we throw it.”
She continues, “It’s different from other local French bakeries because our breads are directly from France.” This includes the popular macarons.
The macarons (P45) come in 11 flavors—vanilla, coconut, chocolate, raspberry, caramel, lemon, lime, mango, orange, pistachio and fig. According to Hipolito, their macarons are best paired with the house sparkling wine Shanpelino (P290 a bottle) that also comes in a variety of flavors such as raspberry, peach, strawberry, apple, and grape. It only has 5 percent alcohol content.
“We source from the best macaron producer in France,” Hipolito claims.
The bakery offers reasonably priced breads and pastries, and display of a wide array of French wines. PHOTOS BY MA. ESTHER SALCEDO–POSADAS
La Vie Parisienne also offers sandwiches. “For the other wines, you can match it with our cold cuts and cheeses from France,” says Hipolito. She explains that they also wish to be known as a provider of affordable French wines.
Customers can also try the Michel Lhuillier wine label that includes Merlot Cabarnet 2011 (P480), Syrah Grenache 2010 (P480) and the Lhuillier Champagne (P2,200).
