Boulangerie LIBERTÉ

All opinions are, by definition, subjective. There is no universal standard by which a reviewer can accurately gauge the quality of a given experience. And yet, it is exactly this daunting task which is thrust upon our shoulders. As such, I propose we partake in a thought exercise to see how close we can get. Take the idea of the perfect bakery. You’d be hard pressed to find someone disagreeing with it being cheap, clean, and well stocked. Service should be polite and fast: the goods should be, well, good. It is pointless to seek greater specificity, as what a New Yorker like myself may consider to be the ideal genre of pastries is bound to be at odds with that of the Parisien. Now take the croissant. Once again we all agree regarding the fundamentals: crescent shaped, buttery, and with a satisfying crunch. But how can we decide what is satisfying? I personally prefer a denser, more solid bite, while a fellow reviewer is of the opinion that an airy interior is key. Both views are entirely truthful in regards to the opinion of the reviewer, but introduce personal bias into an activity which strives to be as objective as possible. What is one to do? In any case, Boulangerie LIBERTÉ was standard, though more expensive than average (1.40 euro for a croissant versus the 1.22 euro Paris average, per France Hotel Guide). Much in line with my previous review, there was neither anything horrifyingly bad nor overwhelmingly great: just a solid croissant. I will go with the grain and rate it a 7.5 out of 10.