LOOK: This cafe is our go-to French bakery in the south of Manila (Sabong News)

The secret is out: Baker J at Crimson Alabang offers an impressive selection of viennoiseries. For those needing a little translation, the French term refers to “things of Vienna, Austria,” specifically in food. According to Cordon Bleu, it is the “bridge between pâtisserie and French bread.” Typically, it includes croissant and brioche, as well as pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins, and more. At Baker J, the wide array of artisan bread is made by hand and perfected by Crimson Hotel Filinvest City’s Executive Pastry Chef Nicolas Pasdeloup. With decades’ worth of culinary expertise, Chef Nicolas brings another dimension to Baker J. Available daily, artisanal bread and pastries are the stars of the menu. Here, Baker J shares a guide to its range of French delectables: Sourdough Bread With sourdough bread, it contains no yeast, milk, oils, eggs, or sweeteners. Instead, this bread uses a fermented “starter,” helping break down gluten. In effect, it makes the bread’s interior softer and easier to digest. For its sourdough, Baker J uses a 2-year-old starter made with a mixture of mango, calamansi, apple, and raisin. Also available at Baker J are Country Sourdough Bread, Beetroot Sourdough Bread, and Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread. Mixed Seeds Loaf Baker J’s signature Mixed Seeds Loaf is loaded with sesame seeds, linseeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and oatmeal. It’s a tasty source of fiber and protein. Dried Fruits and Nuts Loaf Baker J’s Dried Fruits and Nuts Loaf goes well with cheese, cold cuts, and wine, making it perfect to go with your charcuterie board. Made with water infused with dried fruits and black tea, this loaf gives a deep and slightly fruity flavor. Almond Croissant Just when you thought the croissant couldn’t get any better, Baker J offers its version of the Almond Croissant, filled with delicious cream and topped with sliced almonds. Cube Croissant Delight over Baker J’s Cube Croissant as it is the perfect croissant in loaf form. It’s then filled with homemade salted caramel and topped with more salted caramel and walnuts. Pain Au Chocolat More than just a decadent cousin of the croissant, Baker J’s Pain Au Chocolat is a buttery concoction with a rich chocolate filling. Enjoy it with Baker J’s choices of tea and coffee. Baker J is located at Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Entrata Urban Complex, Civic Drive, Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. It is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, follow @BakerJManila on Facebook and Instagram.