Where to buy a Bûche de Noël in the San Francisco Bay Area

A Bûche de Noël is the perfect centerpiece for any holiday meal -- Christmas, Christmas Eve, or the Winter Solstice. Not everyone has the time, skills, or patience to make a Bûche de Noël (aka Yule Log) for the holidays, but there are lots of places you can buy a Bûche de Noël. Of course, you'll want to get your order in soon.

If I were in Paris, I would probably have an impossible decision of where to buy only one Bûche de Noël since almost every patisserie makes a Buche de Noel. Sadly, yet again I won't be spending the holidays in Paris, but if you are, here are two outstanding places: There are beautiful Bûches de Noël by Pierre Hermes (Paris). One of the Bûche de Noël is a Chuao Chocolate Buche with Cherry Accents and another is a Buche with chocolate and caramel. Alexis Mabille has created a couture Bûche de Noël for Chocolaterie Angelina. Mabille put his stamp on the traditional yule log with the pastry chef Sebastian Bauer, opting for a heart of creamy chestnuts, candied apple and a confit of yuzu and lime surrounded by milk-chocolate ganache and crisp pecans. Mabille’s bûche is not a log, but a "Cocoa" Chanel bag: quilted and studded with edible silver buttons, topped with Mabille’s signature silver bow. And, almost every patisserie has its own version.

But, since I'm located in the San Francisco Bay Area, I thought I'd post several (but definitely not all) bakeries in the area that make Buches de Noel. I decided not to list all the flavors, but check with the bakeries. Get your orders in now in time for the holidays.

Bûches de Noël: San Francisco Bay Area

Tartine (SF) (Genoise filled with espresso buttercream, meringue mushrooms, pistachio moss, Valrhona chocolate Glaze)
La Farine, (Rockridge, Dimond, Fruitvale)
b. patisserie, (SF): 4: Chocolate Coffee Caramel, Coconut/Passion Fruit//Pineapple//Mango, Smore and Vanilla with Red fruits.
Bi-Rite (SF): TCHO Chocolate Buche de Noel
Miette (SF, Marin, East Bay): Traditional
Craftsman and Wolves (SF- 2 locations): Coffee, Hazelnut, Yogurt & Caramel
La Boulangerie (San Francisco) 
Bouchon (Napa). Two sizes of traditional Buche
La Bedaine (Berkeley): Three flavors
Sweet Things (Tiburon & SF)
Fleur de Cocoa (Los Gatos)
Douce France (Palo Alto)
Tout Sweet Patisserie (San Francisco and Palo Alto)
Cafe Madeleine (San Francisco)
Arizmendi Bakery (Oakland, San Francisco)
Masse's Pastries (Berkeley)
Sweet Bar Bakery (Oakland)
Fournee Bakery (Berkeley) - my local bakery!
Sweet Adeline Bakeshop (Berkeley)
Gerhard Michler Fine European Desserts (San Francisco)

Moonside Bakery (Half Moon Bay)
La Bedaine (Berkeley)
La Parisienne (Oakland)
Chantal Guillon (San Francisco-check locations)
PanotiQ (Bay Area)
Le Marais (San Francisco)
Thorough Bread & Pastry (San Francisco)
Marla Bakery (San Francisco)
Noe Valley Bakery (San Francisco)
Mademoiselle Colette (Menlo Park)
Fleur de Cocoa (Los Gatos)
Douce France (Palo Alto)

Sadly, Ici in Berkeley that made awesome ice cream Bûches de Noël has shut their doors abruptly earlier this month. They were advertising their Buches de Noel, but alas, this will not be. Just a heads up.

Most fine bakeries and patisseries make Bûche de Noël for the holidays. Check out your local. Get your order in soon. Williams Sonoma is also selling a wonderful Buche de Noel that you can order by December 18 to receive by Christmas.

And lastly, if you don't want a whole Bûche de Noël, several restaurants have Bûche de Noël by the slice on their dessert menus. Check with your favorite French restaurant or bistro.