I am partial to the simple butter croissant, but I also welcome the opportunity to taste some of the custom offerings across LA. Chocolate and almond croissants are widely available, but the custom flavor offerings intrigue me. Proof Bakery continually was listed in croissant round-ups in LA. I recently paid them a visit.
Proof Bakery isn’t new to the LA bakery landscape. In 2012, they were the third pick in the LA Times Food Staff Best Croissants in LA. They opened 9 years ago in Atwater Village and filled a void that residents needed. I think it does well because Proof Bakery is a French Bakery, but they aren’t too French. For example, they do not offer macarons.
Croissants have to be both buttery and flaky. I got spoiled eating croissants in France and I enjoy reliving the experience as closely as I can. When I visited Proof Bakery, my expectations were high. Because there were approximately 20 people in line in front of me, I knew this was a special place.
If you don’t order your items to go, Proof Bakery will provide your items in mugs and plates with steel flatware available. Having real knives is also a nice bonus when you slice into pastry so that you don’t have to eat like a caveman. Drinking from a cup or mug is more satisfying to me than drinking from a paper cup.
Tasting Experience
Eating their croissants was almost like the experience when the food critic in the movie Ratatouille ate vegetable ratatouille. Instead of being whisked away to my childhood, this was a multi-sensory experience beyond taste. Their items are simply made and yet exquisite in aroma, taste, and texture. Both the Plain and the Ham and Gruyere Croissants were tasty and enjoyable to eat.
Their coffee cake also brought back childhood memories because coffee cake used to be readily available when I grew up. It was topped with a delicious crumble topping and it was probably prepared with a butter glaze because it had a nice crisp exterior.
Seeing the French-style sandwiches made with stecca bread, I became interested because these weren’t heavy in nature. The vegan sandwich offering was made with broccolini, harissa paste, and arugula. I was quite pleased with the flavor combinations and didn’t miss not having meat in this sandwich.
In addition to their savory items, they also had a lemon chiffon cake, a Valrhona Chocolate Truffle Cake and a Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte. The chocolate items looked quite decadent.
My only issue is that Proof Bakery does not have a public restroom.
Insider tip: Access to a free parking lot is available off of nearby Garden Ave.
Proof Bakery, 3156 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
proofbakery.com
Bryan,
All I can say is my mouth is watering now!!!!
Dean