By reporter Steven Smalley
The first day of any retail business is fraught with enormous chasms into which one might tumble. Not yesterday. Petit Pierre Bakery opened its doors with the curious and hungry ambling in with eyes aglow. They weren?t disappointed.
Magnolia Voice can report a steady stream of customers?yesterday morning with only small lines forming as Alex and Laure Le Benoist took the time to explain the nature of individual baked items to patrons with questions. One thing is certain, this is a FRENCH bakery.
In the kitchen where Laure and Ray, her baker,?were at?at it since 3 a.m., work progressed past morning fare into lunch preparation. Sandwiches ready for the grill?were laid out, including ham and cheese ? both of which came from French sources, it was explained. Ooh l? l?.
The soup du jour, made of potatoes and carrots spiced with cumin,?was delicate and not salty. Laure said there is never any meat in French soup as it would clash with the meat in the quiche, for example.
Espresso was served of course, accompanied by a representative of Stumptown Roasters who insured all was copacetic with Beth, the barista, and coffee consumers. Although it was obvious the neighbors came to see the baked goods whose bright colors dominated the yummy landscape.
As for the remodeled interior, orange is the color of the moment with accents of pink. Overall, the space is brighter than before with the same basic layout as Finn?s. The vibe is friendly and helpful with Alex and Beth running the front as Laure bounces in and out. There are two tables outside and only a few inside due to limited floor space. Camping out with your laptop for hours probably isn?t the best for this fledgling enterprise. Wink-wink. Nudge-nudge.
For best results, this reporter suggests an early visit for maximum selection. Goodies were moving quickly out the door. Bon app?tit.