If you’ve ever visited France, you know how good their bread and pastries are. The croissants are buttery and flaky, and the baguettes have a crisp exterior and are soft inside. I enjoy reliving that experience when I visit a French bakery. Fortunately, a bakery near me, Sweet Wheat, recently opened.
Sweet Wheat took over the Chipotle location in Redondo Beach. While the new owners were quick to paint the building and add signage, brown paper covered their windows for well over a year. When I learned that it would be a French bakery, I regularly checked on their progress.
Brothers Romain and Alexandre Lecat own and operate Sweet Wheat. After residing in LA for a while, they decided to return to Paris to learn the craft of French baking at l’École de Boulangerie et de Pâtisserie de Paris.
I visited them on their first day in operation, Sep 28. The interior is beautiful and designed for cafeteria-style ordering. Once you make it to the counter, you place your order, and the tray they push the try along as you make your way to the register. If you suddenly see something you want to add to your order, it’s easy to say, “I want this,” and they will add it to your tray.
In France, there is no such thing as a fast dining experience. Sweet Wheat has merged the French dining experience in a way that So Cal diners can appreciate. Their sandwiches are made that day and available without a wait.
The Caprese Sandwich has fresh mozzarella and farmers market quality tomatoes with a pesto sauce. The baguette’s exterior is crisp, and the inside is soft.
I was so amused at my daughter’s reaction to their Quiche Lorraine. Everything she uttered to me was “Oh My God” as she enjoyed the creamy inside.
Sweet Wheat has many beautiful pastries available. Their eclairs are made in the true French style and don’t look like donuts. Their chocolate eclairs are a chocolate lover’s dream. Not only are they rich, but they also use premium dark chocolate.
I was surprised to see classic French offerings like ratatouille, Croque Monsieur, Gratin Dauphinois, and salads such as Niçoise. Some of their premade dishes require heating before enjoying them.
They appear to exclusively offer French beverages like Evian, Perrier, Alain Milliat fruit nectars, and Orangina. Even their coffee and tea originates from France. They offer hot French espresso beverages as well as Chocolat Chaud (French Hot Chocolate).
Word about their existence has quickly gotten out. While they were surprisingly busy on their first day, I found the line going out the door a week later. If you like French baguettes and pastries, you owe it to yourself to visit them.
To recreate the authentic French experience, they import the highest quality non-GMO grain from France.
Sweet Wheat, 1430 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277; sweetwheatbakery.com