The Best Croissant Outside of France at Maison Giraud

In a sweet little Pacific Palisades neighborhood there sits a culinary powerhouse. Maison Giraud is a French patisserie and restaurant owned by acclaimed chef Alain Giraud and his lovely wife Catherine. Together they have created the ultimate Provençal experience outside of Provence, France.

Let’s begin with their croissants. When was the last time you had a croissant so flaky and buttery you need to wipe your chin after each bite? Do you remember the last time your breakfast was made from the same fruits and vegetables being sold just outside in the farmers market that morning? That is the type of place Maison Giraud is – fresh, delicious, and memorable.

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Alain started his culinary career at a young age. Both his grandmothers and their traditional ways of creating dishes for their family inspired him. Once he graduated from his grandmother’s kitchen academies he moved on to bigger aspirations. Alain has been the chef for three very famous high-end restaurants in France. He spent four years at l’Ermitage Meissonnier in Avignon, two years at the Hotel de Crillon, and two years at the Grand Vefour. In the process he has built a quite a professional reputation.

Maison Giraud’s menu is expanding and offering perfectly executed dishes such as, ‘Lout de Mer “Barigoule” Baby Artichokes, Basil Pistou and Croque-Madame – country bread, Gruyére, sunny side up eggs (one of my favorites). As the saying goes, “beside every great man there’s a great woman.” This couldn’t be more true a statement for Alain and Catherine. Just next door in the same building is Catherine’s Provencal-themed retail store. Lavender Blue has anything you could want from Provence: fine fabrics, table clothes, knickknacks, soaps, children’s items, housewares, etc.

Sundays are an exciting day at Maison Giraud. Just outside the restaurant in the middle of the street is an incredible farmers’ market. Chef Alain walks the market and looks for his week’s inspirations. From those inspirations his guests are treated to some pretty incredible seasonal dishes.

Who’s up for a trip to Pacific Palisades?

Maison Giraud
1032 Swarthmore Ave.
Pacific Palisades, CA 92072
1-310-459-7562

Lavender Blue
1032 Swarthmore Ave.
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
1-310-459-9423