Boulangerie Saint Vincent
Coffee Éclair
Cherry Clafoutis
Chocolate Pistachio Snail
Cranberry Pecan Brioche
Almond Croissant
Apricot Tarte
Located on a small corner just steps away from the Saone, and featuring weekday hours that see the small bakery open just long enough to sell out of the vast majority of its wood-fired goods by noon, an early arrival at Boulangerie Saint Vincent after an early morning run found the small storefront with doors still closed, and yet with a small line of waiting locals eagerly watching watches there was an immediate sense that the brief wait would prove worthy, a fact born out just moments after 06h40 when I sat down on the bank to sample a half dozen items of which every single bite was divine.
The very definition of “cozy,” a couple steps down from the curb finding room for no more than two to peruse the pastries, breads, and viennoiserie served by a young woman with beads of sweat already formed above her brow, the selection offered by Boulangerie Saint Vincent is surprisingly diverse and although minding the persons waiting while trying to make decisions was a bit of a hurried experience the patience with my limited French was very much appreciated, the man beside me going so far as to suggest the Cranberry Brioche as “very best…you must get.”
Obviously benefited by the early arrival, but reassured that items clearly crafted during the wee-hours of the night were just as good as those still warm from the racks, it was with bites of the warm almond croissant that the tasting began and although served softer than one would generally expect the exceedingly natural flavor and soft wisps within were exceedingly well executed, the same to be said of the light green ‘escargot’ loaded with chocolate chips and gentle nuttiness, a more hearty bite offered from the bitter-sweet, eggy brioche.
Turning next to the second clafoutis in two days to feature cherries with pits, this one not quite as perfect as that at Tixier despite still being quite nice, it was onward to a tarte topped with sugar lacquered apricots that the breakfast progressed and having set aside bites of many items for later that day it was finally to the decadence of an éclair that tastebuds were treated, the golden choux quickly giving way to richness of coffee infused in a cream so light that capacity wasn’t even considered in consuming the whole thing.
