UPDATE 9/9/09: Banana Fig: Not Vegan. Tis the final official review from the folks at Le Pain. Apologies from them regarding the confusion.
"We've discontinued the Ginger Green Tea Muffin." The counter man said. Gasp!
Tales from Le Pain. I adore Le Pain Quotidian. If you don't have one in-town, my condolences. Hopefully they will be coming to you soon. I go there every weekend for a morning muffin run (or dine-in brunch). However, I was shocked and saddened by the news today. My beloved Ginger Green Tea Muffin was outed. The replacement? A newfangled vegan Banana Fig Muffin. But does this new treat on the bakery shelf live up to my muffin standards? Find out in part two of my muffin tale....
7/20 UPDATE: Le Pain Quotidian confirmed to me that the Ginger Green Tea muffin will indeed be back on the menu in the future. Yippee! Now I don't have to work tirelessly to attempt to re-create the recipe! Banana Fig Muffin tale and review ahead...
Banana Fig. I peered through the bakery-shelf glass searching desperately for my favorite muffin, with its light green tea muffin-top dusted with an opaque ginger sweet powder. I searched and searched and saw nothing. "Are you out of the Green Tea muffins today?" I asked. But instead of the "yes" reply I expected, the counter man bluntly informed me that the Ginger Green tea muffins were no more. Just a passing special on the ever-changing muffin carousel at Le Pain. My eyes widened and I turned to my husband who was equally shocked. His jaw dropped open (mirroring my expression) and when he saw the wide-eyed look on my face he began to snicker a little at my dramatization of the news. I quickly replied to the counter men, "what is that?" I pointed desperately at a 'new' looking muffin on the shelf, sitting where my Green Tea muffins usually sat, right next to the stand-by blueberry muffins. The counter man replied. "Banana Fig." And yes they are vegan. All the muffins are organic and usually vegan at Le Pain. I quickly decided to get four of them to-go. To last us the weekend. I am quite fond of banana and fig flavors, so I had high hopes. But would these new bronzed-looking dark horse muffins fill the void of the utterly perfect Ginger Green tea muffins???
My Review: Banana Fig Muffin
from Le Pain Quotidian, NYC
Shelf Appeal: Honestly, these muffins do not look incredibly appealing. They are a tinge too dark, almost burnt looking. They are a dark glossy banana muffin with a thin slice of dark baked fig on top. It looks mysterious and I wondered if it would taste, well, good!
Label Check: Vegan. Organic. No calorie data online. But I'd guess they are around 350 calories each. The larger, sweeter blueberry muffins are 400 calories each. Huge chunks of fig and plentiful strands of banana are easy to find in the muffin. High quality flour is used-it's got a dense texture-earthy flavor. Le Pain is of course known for their high quality flour and breads. It tastes homemade, so it's not oily or overly sweet. The high quantity of fruit really ups the moisture and fiber, while keeping the sugar/flour calories down.
Taste Test: Nice! The texture is dense and heavier than the ginger green tea muffin-less fluffy. The top is glazed over and glossy. The figs are dried up, yet still moist. The banana is apparent and the two fruit flavors mingle quite nicely together. Not nuts, no overpowering spice flavor as in some banana breads. It actually almost has a molasses flavor to it. It tastes cozy. Like my mom baked them. Smaller than the other muffins. But that's OK since they are more dense.
Price Check: Same as the other Le Pain muffins. Around $3. I always think that this is an awesome price for such awesome vegan muffins in NYC.
Last Word: Bring back the Ginger Green tea muffins! But do keep these yummy Banana Fig Muffins too. But then again, I can get Banana bread at Babycakes NYC too...(They don't have Ginger Green tea.) 
Kathy says
Hannah,
PS, if you can tell us about any more of the Le Pain menu items-the soups, tartines ect, that would be awesome!!!
Kathy
Kathy says
Awesome! Thanks Hannah! I'm totally posting your list...
PS what does OFVTEE stand for?????
~Kathy
Anonymous says
hey all. i actually work at Le Pain - the newest store in Manhattan NY by the United Nations. Sorry for your loss (the green tea muffin). I'm personally sorry that many of you have experienced occasions of a few employees goofing up on info. I have to say, despite my better pastry knowledge, its not easy for any of us remembering what is/is not vegan, gluten free, wheat free, and other such dietary trivia - or even to be asked on the spot. To make it all easier for you, here is a run down of our menu items to study and cherish for yourselves.
APPLE CINNAMON MUFFIN: low fat, contains wheat, is NOT vegan but ok for some vegetarians.
BLUEBERRY MUFFIN: contains wheat, is vegan.
BANANA FIG MUFFIN: NOT VEGAN!! Contains wheat.
ALMOND MERINGUE: wheat free, is NOT vegan but ok for some vegetarians
ALMOND POUND CAKE: is NOT vegan but ok for some vegetarians
APPLE/PEAR T'OVR: Is NOT vegan but OFVTEE.
BROWNIE (my fav!): is NOT vegan but OFVTEE.
WAFFLE: contains wheat, is NOT vegan but OFVTEE.
BRIOCHE: is NOT vegan but OFVTEE.
CHOC. CHP. COOKIE: is HUGE but NOT Vegan. ok for some vegetarians
CROISSANT/PAIN AU CHOC./CHZ ALMD DANISH/CHOC. MOUSSE CAKE/MINI MOUSSE DUO/COCONUT MACAROON/ : is NOT vegan but ok for some vegetarians
COUQUE SUISSE: is NOT Vegan, is ok for some vegetarians. may contain almonds of peanuts - for those who are allergic.
GRANOLA BAR: is NOT vegan but ok for some vegetarians
MADELINE: is NOT vegan but ok for some vegetarians.
SAVORY CHEESE MUFFIN: (not avail. at all locations) is NOT vegan but ok for some vegetarians.
TARTS: NOT vegan. all tarts contain nuts EXCEPT the raspberry tart... wouldnt take the risk any way though.
thats all. i would do the breads but you should all know that already. <3
Happy Eating!
Hannah
Kathy says
Katie (quediluvscocoa),
Wow, I'm pretty shocked by the misinformed employees at MANY of the NYC locations. That is awful that so many of them-including managers-were POSITIVE that the banana fig muffin was vegan. Katie, thanks so much for the update on this. I wish they listed the ingredients in NYC.
...this unraveling muffin story is just another reason why food allergies and special diets needs to be brought to the forefront of dining issues and standards-worldwide! This type of error could indeed kill somebody if they were allergic to eggs. Or in other cases, dairy. I hope Le Pain (and other restaurant brands) read this and take action on this issue...As I've said before I adore the Le Pain Quotidian brand. But this was a big error on their part.
Thanks again for the comments Katie!!
Kathy
Anonymous says
I inquired through their website and it only took 25 mins to get a response! This is what they have to say:
Dear Katie,
Thank you for your interest in Le Pain Quotidien and our delicious banana fig muffin. Yes, this product contains eggs (a full ingredient list is included below for your reference).
So you know, all of our vegan items are marketed with a carrot on our menus.
Best,
Kate Planitzer
Le Pain Quotidien
Organic wheat flour
Baking Powder
Banana Puree
Cinnamon, Ground
Organic Egg
Vanilla
Salt
Sugar
Soy Oil
Flax Seed
Water
Black Mission Figs
Anonymous says
I've contacted them through their website to inquire about this discrepancy and I'll let you know what I hear back 🙂
Anonymous says
well, maybe it's different in Los Angeles then, because they actually printed me an ingredients list from their website that said it had eggs in it...
Kathy says
Update again,
I went to three downtown Le Pain's recently and all three confirmed that this banana fig muffin WAS VEGAN. The SoHo store worker asked the manager and he was sure of it.
So that's great news. I still wish all the employees would have the same info though!
Kathy
Anonymous says
Hi Kathy,
I enjoy your blog. I stopped into a Los Angeles Le Pain today and inquired about this muffin. The employees were SURE that the blueberry was vegan, but not so sure about the banana fig. I opted for the blueberry, while they searched high and low for an ingredient list, and were finally able to confirm that the banana fig muffin contains eggs : I did appreciate all the attentiveness, the employees were really sweet about it all 🙂
Kathy says
Sarah,
Thanks for the info. I am so frustrated by restaurant employees who simply don't have their facts straight about the food they serve! Le Pain is usually soooo good about vegan vs. non vegan, but there are still so many uninformed employees out there it seems.
I contacted Le Pain for an official review about this. Hoping for an answer!...I'll let you guys know.
Kathy
sarah says
The 2 Le Pains I went to today said their banana fig muffins were NOT vegan, just the blueberry ones. They were 58th & 7th, and 65th & Bdwy. Bummer! Hope yours were..?
VeggieGirl says
Those muffins look deeeelicious!!