La Boulange Opens A FiDi Location, Hides Charms In Cakes!

In case you didn't know, we are huge La Boulange fans over here at Refinery29 San Francisco. So much so, in fact, that we consider the many locations around town something like R29 satellite offices. This, of course, makes it all the more exciting that the local mini-chain is opening a brand-new shop, dubbed La Boulange de California, tomorrow, Wednesday, December 28, in the Merchant Exchange Building on the corner of California and Montgomery.

While the new FiDi location can't be painted one of La Boulange's vivid hues on the outside (landmark building codes, always getting in the way), the powers that be at the French bistro tell us that the inside will be all dolled up in "plum and racy orange" hues, a glitzy chandelier, and baroque details similar to the Sutter Street locale.

Also on the menu for the pastry house in 2012: A new wall-less location on the top floor of the Westfield Mall, dubbed La Boulange du Dome. We're told it'll be inspired by the glassy dome itself, with chairs featuring decorative cut-out backs, all white and glass furniture, colors borrowed from the marble glass of the dome, and a special Le Dome dessert available at the counter.

And, if all of this wasn't exciting enough, come January, all of La Boulange's 15 Bay-wide locations will be serving a dessert that we can't wait to get our paws on. Dubbed the Galette Des Rois, it's a traditional tart-like cake served in France during the first month of the year that has a charm baked into it (!). And, the person who gets the slice with the charm in it is crowned king for a day.

Naturally, to avoid any choking incidents and, um, lawsuits, La Boulange is planning on handing out the charms — of S.F. landmarks like the Transamerica building, Coit Tower, Golden Gate Bridge, and a Cable Car — to each customer, to place into the cake at their own discretion. Yep, expect to see us there ordering a dozen.