Le Pain Quotidian, London

The best part about Le Pain Quotidian is there are 27 locations spread out around London and around 250 in the whole world. Most of the cafes and restaurants that have really inspired me so far have all been on a very small scale, but Le Pain Quotidian as broken that mold and is a wonderful example of a franchise that stays true to its roots.

Although the cafe has grown into such a large business with so many locations it holds true to its original values. Born in Belgium in 1990 Le Pain Quotidian began as a bakery, offering organic, sourdough, vegan bread. Through all of its expansions it has held true to its original values. They always offer a long wooden table for communal seating table, inspired by their Belgium roots, and the warm atmosphere is a wonderful way to escape London’s chilly weather. The menu is over 80 percent organic and offers a wide range of vegan options, from their famous fresh baked breads, to warm porridges laced with fruits and honey and field mushroom and avocado toast, served, of course, on homemade bread. Le Pain Quotidian does not cut corners, they take the time to bake their bread properly and source their ingredients well and the results yield healthier and better tasting food.

It was a wonderful find in London as it has so many locations not only in England but spread across the world. Le Pain Quartian is a great example of a cafe that expanded into a franchise but maintained its core values.