Don’t Ever Say That PAUL Gave You Nothin’

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, September 15th, 2011

This past weekend, after a long dinner with copious amounts of food at America Eats Tavern, I was strolling through DC’s Penn Quarter when I noticed across the plaza of the US Navy Memorial a wonderfully familiar awning. In the clear night, I could make out the clean white letters of PAUL shining ever so gloriously in the moonlight. I never thought I would see such a magnificent sight as PAUL right here in DC, the capital of the United States of America!

 

I discovered PAUL when I was traveling through France and immediately fell in love with their beautifully delicious baked goods—second to the Eifel Tower and €2 wine, these pastries are what I think of when I think of France. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely preferred some of the one-of-a-kind patisseries I found on the small streets in Paris, but during the two weeks I was traveling through France, I learned that Paul was a trustworthy brand in which I could lay my expectations of eating some form of delicious French baked goods. When I was back in Barcelona resuming my work, I was pleasantly surprised to find a random PAUL franchise for a taste of Paris in a different European country.

Back in DC, I was pulled by some force, despite my fullness from dinner, towards the shining lights of PAUL and gazed in through the windows. It was about 9 p.m. and the lights were still on as a few workers were closing down shop. Before I knew it, one of the workers saw me and the group I was with and started walking quickly towards the locked door. Pardon me, didn’t mean to eye-rape your baked goods, kind sir, just taking an innocent glance!

“You folks want something?”

“Oh, nooo, just looking….”

“Hang on—” and he was off, walking towards the back of the cute little shop.

We all looked at each other in giddy curiosity of where this friendly worker was going and what he might be bringing back with him. I was expecting some day-old croissants, a couple of stale macaroons, at best. He returned from the kitchen with a large box to present us with, opening it in front of our bright eyes. Inside was a lattice-topped fruit pie, probably about 12 inches in diameter, so beautifully glazed it nearly reflected the moonlight.

“I was gonna take it home with me, but I really don’t need it,” the man said.

“Really?”

“Enjoy it…and don’t ever say that PAUL gave you nothin’!”

It was the sweetest thing that I had witnessed a stranger do in a while. What better way to brighten up the end of a great night with free pie?

The item turned out to be what PAUL calls a tarte aux myrtilles, otherwise known as a blueberry tart. Though it was clearly just left over from the morning, so not completely fresh as to be servable the next business day, it was a sweet gift, and I will forever remember PAUL as a sweet delight. 

PAUL is located at 801 Pennsylvania Ave., NW DC; 202-524-4500. For more information visit www.paul-usa.com.

Tags: America Eats Tavern, blueberries, DC, Eiffel Tower, food, French bakery, Gut Check, José Andrés, julia harbo, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, Paris, patisserie, PAUL, pie, restaurants