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Le Pain Quotidien is one of my favorite breakfast spots in the world. The way they combine health and indulgence is simply unbeatable. Their raw cashew cream parfait with crunola has been my not-so-secret addiction ever since I discovered it last year. Last weekend I led a superfood breakfast master class at the Park Avenue location, and it was a blast! But before we get into it, let me explain why you should consider stopping by your local LPQ for a breakfast or lunch.
A few months back, I was lucky to be selected as one of food influencers to test the new LPQ menu, where I devoured new unreleased items with @cjnutrition, @bewellwitharielle, Sarah Phillips of @Food, @nycfoodgals, and more passionate foodies. The culmination of the evening was a surprise visit by Alain Coumont, the man behind the whole worldwide LPQ concept himself! I got to chat with the person behind the larger than life brand and see his authentic passion for connecting with people over a healthy meal.
Here’s Coumont’s story in a nutshell:
“As a young chef in Brussels, Coumont could not find the right bread for his restaurant. Passionate about quality, he returned to his roots and opened a small bakery where he could knead flour, salt and water into the rustic loaves of his childhood. Coumont opened his bakery in rue Antoine Dansaert in Brussels in 1990, in those days an avant-garde quarter of Belgian fashion. He named his bakery “Le Pain Quotidien.” Brussels quickly took to the taste of this traditional bread. Alain evolved his offering to include simple salads and tartines, keeping bread the cornerstone of the menu. At a local flea market, Coumont found a long table where his guests could sit to eat together; it became Le Pain Quotidien’s first communal table.”
The rest is history.
Needless to say, it was my absolute delight to lead a superfood breakfast master class at the beautiful Park Avenue Le Pain Quotidien location. I shared the story behind Breakfast Criminals, talked about my favorite superfoods and their life-changing power, and made my signature Chia Oat Pitaya Pudding made with Pitaya Plus.
After learning about the different ways to boost your breakfast (and your day!) with maca, raw cacao nibs, stone ground almond butter, acai, goji berries, Sprout Living protein and Philosophie superfood mixes, attendees got creative with the DIY oatmeal bar with the base of LPQ steel cut oats.
We devoured our #breakfastcriminalized creations not as strangers but as a group of likeminded souls who got together to make the world a better place, starting with our breakfasts. That’s the power of eating communally.
Through Febuary 2, 2015, my favorite picks from the LPQ pantry are available on pantry.lepainquotidien.com at 20% off.
Products were kindly provided by the following brands. I recommend shopping for your superfoods and pantry essentials online — you’ll save a lot of money this way, and get the best choices. After trying dozens of different brands, I’ve selected the best of best to use at the Breakfast Criminals kitchen. My criteria are impeccable taste, whole food ingredients, and in ethical sourcing. These brands have passed the test:
- Frontier Coop:
- Fair trade organic raw cacao nibs (the most fresh and flavorful nibs on the market)
- goji berries
- chia seeds
- Dang Coconut Chips: vegan, non-gmo and add a satisfying crunch to any smoothie or porridge.
- Farm To People local bee pollen. Shop delicious goods from small-batch artisan producers in their online store. Get 15% discount with the code “Breakfast2People”.
- Le Pain Quotidien:
- Crunola raw granola
- Caravan trail mix
- Brunette organic hazelnut spread and chocolate spreads
- Organic orange blossom honey
- Organic steel cut oats
- Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts: add a spoonful of hemp seeds to smoothies, oatmeals or salads for a nutty taste and a healthy dose of plant protein
- Organic Burst (an ethically sourced brand of affordable organic superfoods)
- Maca – ancient Aztec superfood with earthy flavor that gives energy boost, regulates hormones and improves skin.
- Acai – amazon Berry that bursts with antioxidants and vitamins.
- Baobab fruit powder – immunity booster from Africa with six time more vitamin C than an orange
- Philosophie Superfoods: the delicious Berry Bliss, Green Dream and Cacao Magic superfood mixes with only the best quality superfoods as ingredients. Great in smoothies, oatmeals and for baking. Made by the lovely Sophie Jaffe. Get 15% off your order with code “breakfastcriminals”.
- Pitaya Plus raw dragonfruit smoothie packs (dragonfruit is the only ingredient) – source of Omega 3 and 6, antioxidants and minerals, this deliciously bright magenta superfood grows in Nicaragua and has a refreshingly satisfying taste, perfect for smoothie bowl creations.
- Sprout Living Epic Protein – my favorite natural plant based protein brand on the market. An easy way to add a protein boost to your smoothies, oatmeal or pancakes. Protein consumption is essential for a balanced diet, it keeps you full and gives the sense of satisfaction. I love Vanilla Lucuma, Chocolate Maca and Pumpkin protein options. Sprout Living always has a readable list of natural ingredients and wins with taste!
- Windy City Organics raw organic stone ground Almond butter. Their Cashew butter, Pumpkin Seed butter and Rawmio Raw Chocolate Hazelnut Spread are the most tasty healthy indulgence you’ll ever meet in your life.
Make sure you check out the Breakfast Criminals ebook to find out how to use all these superfoods to make revolutionize your breakfast life.
Thanks Margaret and Saf from LPQ, and my friend Kul Healthy You for helping make this event happen!
Photos by Jess Fimbel and Elena Kulakovska.
Through the eyes of attendees:
Mastering the art of (a better) #breakfast. A photo posted by allison walton (@allisonrwalton) on