164 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
A French bakery in East Somerville, what
this location lacks in space it makes up for in quality. Michette is an in and out spot that stays busy. Their baguettes and sourdough breads put them on the map and they regularly experiment new pastries and treats. I was able to try what I would consider an adult version of the pizza sticks served in elementary school. While that may seem derogatory, I’d like the record to show that any food which is socially acceptable to be dunked in warm marinara sauce, is an instant win in my book. It was
about the size of an éclair but it was filled with melted cheese and a pepperoni adjacent chorizo. Just look at the crispy cheese on the outside of that thing!
The barista told the gentleman ahead of me it was his first time seeing this one so I decided to give it a try, boy oh boy was I glad that I did. While I nibbled on my little treat, I overheard that a batch of croissants was on it’s way out of the oven in a couple of minutes. #winning
The barista asks if I am waiting for a croissant, reading my mind like a billboard. I ask for two croissants to go. He accommodates my request with a warning, the bread is extremely delicate and he encourages me not to spare a moment in devouring them. I heeded his advice and melted into a dream. The outer layers where flaky, as expected, the middle was luscious melted chocolate and steamy dough burning my mouth. This was an intimate experience for sure. When the bible says, man can’t live by bread alone, this is what Jesus had in mind, it’s not a pastry its passion. My eyes roll to the back of my head as my mouth devours the rich, decadent dessert. I come out of the trance and recall that I am in a public venue. Barely remembered to take photos as I was scarfing this boy down.
Look how airy it is. The best way to describe this desert is floofy, simply floofy. Which isn't a word but you know what I mean. You can glimpse the pockets of chocolate playing coy, but they know exactly what they are doing. There is a huge difference between a good coffee shop and a transcendental experience. This place offered the latter on a parchment paper platter.
Michette only offers to-go cups and has two benches out front, with no indoor seating. Again, it's purely a bakery, not a sit-down coffee shop but they knocked the coffee out of the park anyway. Also, love when a spot has a water cooler. Don't let dehydration ruin your vacation ;)
Perhaps my favorite part of this venture was at home depot while picking out the fluorescent bulb for my closet. As we kneel to pull bulbs from the bottom shelf the sales associate looks at me, “Is there bread in your bag” The smell was so strong it permeated a 6 foot radius. “Yes, yes I do.”
I simply cannot recommend Michette enough. If you would like to take home a loaf of bread, order the day before during business hours as they sell out daily.
Comment below if you are able to give it a try or tag @Cafecritiques on Instagram :)
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