Paneterie Brings 40 Years of French Pastry Experience to Delray Beach

Palm Beach-based Paneterie has opened a second location in Delray Beach this week.

The bakery and café, which first opened in West Palm Beach in 2014, is inspired by owner Thierry Beaud's memories of the idyllic neighborhood patisseries of Europe. Like the original West Palm Beach location, Paneterie's menu features a rotating variety of seasonal and standard fresh-baked breads, pastries, and artisanal sandwiches made on-premise by pastry chef Patrick Leze.

Léze was a pastry chef in France for close to 40 years before he and his wife discovered Palm Beach while touring the Florida coast on a motorcycle in the late 1980s. Originally from a small village near Marseilles, France, a 14-year-old Léze went to apprentice at a local bakery near his hometown. He later become a member of the Tour de France baking team, and for the next two years did two-month studies at pastry shops around France. Leze settled in Paris and worked at Laduree and Gaston Lenotre, two famous bakeries, then returned to the south of France to open his own bakery. 

The new Delray Beach Paneterie — which opens this week in the shopping plaza that also houses D'Angelo Pizza and The Sea — will serve everything currently found at the original West Palm Beach location. That includes oven-fresh croissants, artisanal breads, and Danish pastries baked fresh throughout the day at the store. Specialty items such as macarons, chocolates, and finer pastries are made daily in Paneterie’s commissary kitchen.

Beaud — who also owns and operates PB Catch Se afood & Raw Bar and Patrick Lézé Pâtisserie in Palm Beach, and Pistache French Bistro in West Palm Beach — says he is planning on expanding the Paneterie bakery brand across Palm Beach County, starting with the new 1,300-square-foot store located in the shopping plaza off Jog Road.

"Many of my most cherished memories growing up in France, or from my travels around Europe, are of the simple pleasures of enjoying fresh-baked pastries or a croissant at one of the many charming cafés set along city streets," says Beaud. "We have long desired to bring that experience to South Florida, and now with our new location in Delray Beach."

In addition to fresh-baked pastries, coffee, and tea, Paneterie also offers patrons additional savory breakfast, lunch, and dinner options in a grab-and-go environment with a selection of specialty sandwiches and salads. 

Paneterie is located at 16950 N Jog Rd., Delray Beach. Call 561-833-5575, or visit paneterie.com.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.