Saint Michel Bakery

Address:

5540 Wilkins Ct, Rockville, MD 20852

Phone:

Owner Bertrand Houlier started Saint Michel Bakery in 2007 with a singular goal: Create a truly authentic French neighborhood bakery that would taste exactly like they do in Paris. Everything is prepared to rest overnight and baked fresh every morning. In his quest, Houlier has spared no detail, importing not only fresh ingredients like French-milled bread flour and Charentes butter, but all the baking equipment and machines were also purchased direct from France.

Houlier is quick to point out that although a few favorite sweets can be found (a few eclairs and tarts were on display), his shop focuses on traditional boulangerie items—baked goods like breads and croissants, not pastries and sweets (as found in a pâtisserie).  A perfect example is the delightful Charentes Butter Pain Au Chocolat. With a crust darker than most pale store-bought croissants (owing to the generous glazing of imported Charentes butter), the croissant is at once light and flaky, before a buttery chewy texture emerges, finishing with a thin but rich layer of bittersweet chocolate.  Saint Michel's also leverages their breads to make delicious sandwiches, many using imported ingredients such as true Dijon mustard and Madrange French ham.

Hidden in an industrial suite off of Wilkins Avenue, Houlier has relied on his presence at the Bethesda Farmers Market (7155 Wisconsin Avenue, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 2pm) and word-of-mouth to provide a loyal customer base.

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