La Mauvaise Herbe: a 100% plant-based bakery combining tradition and modernity in the 17th arrondissement

Vegan lovers have a new must-visit address in the 17th arrondissement: La Mauvaise Herbe, a committed bakery-pastry shop that reinvents the classics of the genre without animal products, homemade by a passionate duo.

More and more plant-based patisseries are springing up in the capital to our delight, and La Mauvaise Herbe has just added to the range, in the 17th arrondissement on avenue de Saint-Ouen. This bakery-patisserie offers 100% plant-based breads, viennoiseries, sandwiches, quiches and entremets, all homemade by Maxime Raïmi and Florence Neveux, a generous couple with a passion for French savoir-faire.

Committed to a more sustainable diet, this vegan and complementary baker and pastry chef present seasonal products, without milk, butter or cream, that are both"a delight and a gesture for the planet".

Whether you're a vegetarian, just curious about new flavors or simply looking for a good baguette in the neighborhood, you'll be warmly welcomed in this store with its Art Nouveau touches and the smell of warm bread.

Named in homage to the Brassens song, La Mauvaise Herbe recalls the rebellious side of this choice without animal products, yet in tune with the times, between tradition and modernity. Here, ingredients are selected in accordance with the eco-responsible wishes of the owners, organically grown and local wherever possible.

On the bread side, we salute the Tradition sourdough loaf, which remains at one euro despite inflation, a price Maxime holds dear to his heart, alongside the Nordique oat, flax and sunflower loaf, crisp and nourishing, the Norwegian fruit loaf and the Campagne walnut loaf, delicious for breakfast.

We were able to sample some of the latest products, accompanied by a delicious vegan hot chocolate. And we weren't disappointed, far from it, with the sometimes innovative flavors and stunning combinations, light years ahead of the clichés about plant-based products. Take, for example, the hazelnut flan with homemade praline, which delighted the editorial team so much that it didn't last long.

If you're a fan of this sweet nut, don't miss it, as it's very present without the whole thing being too sweet, with an ultra-gourmand praline and the compact cream of the flan pâtissier. Then there's the pistachio and orange puff pastry, both crunchy and melt-in-your-mouth thanks to the pistachio cream and its touch of citrus that awakens the taste buds.

As for viennoiseries, we enjoy an apple turnover (1.70€) delicately sweetened with real slices of the fruit, far from the puff pastry where the compote is absent, which makes all the difference, as well as a delicious two-tone praline croissant (1.90€), which smells more like chocolate with crunchy hazelnuts. Refined little treats that delight the palate and invite us to come back and try the rest!

For Epiphany, La Mauvaise Herbe concocted an almond-flavored galette des rois, with a crisp, golden puff pastry and a fluffy frangipane that's always plant-based, of course. For the end-of-year festivities, we had a glimpse of the managers' savoir-faire with original Christmas logs, notably pear-tonka, particularly gourmet, with fruit, spices and speculoos sugar.

A must-see bakery and patisserie in the 17th arrondissement, and well worth a visit just to taste what it has to offer!