Pike Place Profile: Kristi Drake, co-owner of Le Panier Very French Bakery

Who: Kristi Drake, 47, co-owner of Le Panier Very French Bakery

Where I live: Shoreline; grew up in Eastern Washington.

What I sell: 75 different pastries and breads commonly found at a boulangerie or patisserie in Paris.

What is that aroma that grabs everyone's attention? "It's the croissants baking and when the croissants come out of the oven. It's the most aromatic. The bread racks add to the whole aroma, too."

Best sellers? Pain au chocolat and baguettes.

Best time to grab pain au chocolate or plain croissant? "Right at 7 a.m. They are nice and warm. Then about 9:30 again. All the products are baked again."

On her business partner, baker Thierry Mougin: "He went to baking school when he was 14. We use a lot from his recipe book from his schooling."

Busiest days? "July and August, tourist season. Christmas Eve is the single biggest day of the year. The line was out the door. We had 1,200 to 1,300 customers."

Celebrity sightings: "Michael Keaton, Tom Skerritt. Lauren Bacall came in a few times, too. Martha Stewart came on a Sunday afternoon and bought a baguette. She was so quiet. No one was really aware until she got to the counter."

— Compiled by Tan Vinh, Seattle Times staff reporter

Le Panier, 1902 Pike Place, two blocks north of the big neon Pike Place Market sign. 206-441-3669 or lepanier.com