Cookies from Around the World

They poke their heads into bakeries, little grocery shops where even the canned goods are fascinating, and other new adventures in the perpetual pursuit of great cookies and other foods. And they often find an institution that we seldom see here, alas—the patisserie-café, salon de thé, or Konditorei. These shops are like our bakeries, except that on one side of the room, opposite the glass cases filled with temptations, there are neat little tables and chairs, so you can enjoy them on the spot.