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(43 posts)

Bakery Nouveau ultra-love!

Started 3 years ago by Traci
Latest reply from Cait

Traci
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Hey WSB, we talk about food so much, and I just realized that we haven't given...dare I say...THE most delicious little spot in West Seattle some love.

Bakery Nouveau is like the bakery that I dreamt of in my childhood. Hot damn it is so perfect. The pizza OMG, the olive bread, the sweet cakes and tarts, the staff is personable. Even the families that have sat next to me while I eat are unusually ADORABLE.

So, West Seattle friends, do we all love Bakery Nouveau, and what's your favorite baked wonderfulness there??

Posted 3 years ago #
Magpie
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Let's see, after the thousandth or so baguette....plus, they have wonderful fresh fruit tarts in summer and a chocolate praline cake (the square one) that is pretty much to die for. They even have really good cookies! Oh, and the sandwiches (love their version of a blt and the caprese, too...).. and the chocolate croissants, too many good things to have to only mention one. I was in there at about 2 pm on Thursday and the place was packed.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jiggers
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You guys still have money nowdays to eat exotic pastries?

Posted 3 years ago #
rockhills
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Mmmmmm... Chocolate croissants...

Posted 3 years ago #
westseattledood
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Chocolate croissants are very good.

BUT -

Twice-baked chocolate almond croissants - slightly warmed - are sublime to the endth degree.

Posted 3 years ago #
Irukandji
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Jiggers, some of us have chosen to give up fruits and vegetables, rice and milk, just so we can mainline bacon and almond croissants until our early deaths.

Posted 3 years ago #
Keith
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Their BLT is my go-to food for road trips, picnics, etc. The twice-baked almond croissants are amazing. And if I ever need to bring something to dinner or birthday party, I pick up a tart or cake.

I wish they did Twitter alerts when fresh baguettes come out of the oven. But judging by the business they're doing, that'd be a lot of tweets.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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I absolutely love this place. Great coffee, great pastries, great food... *sigh* Weight Watchers has kept me away but not for long, I imagine. The people there are wonderful and they care about every aspect of what they put out. It's wonderful... end of story :)

And that their croissants are at Metro Market? Genius.

Posted 3 years ago #
Irukandji
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I've been hoping BN would put some pastries up at Red Cup - it would keep all us parents with little ones in car seats from having ot park, haul them in to stand in line... DRIVE THRU NOUVEAU!

Posted 3 years ago #
carrieann
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In addition to the baguettes and croissants already mentioned, their chocolate chip cookies and macaroons (especially the salted caramel) are also amazing.

Posted 3 years ago #
Franci
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Back in the days before I found out I was allergic to wheat, eggs, dairy - this was one of my fav morninging stops for a quick breakfast on the way to work. Their individual quiches are wonderful! They also make a great croissant sandwich with turkey and havarti.. yumm..

Posted 3 years ago #
Jeannie
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I love Bakery Nouveau - the breads, the pastries, everything. The croissants are amazing. I do miss the classic German-Jewish bakeries of my Long Island childhood, though...especially the humongous black-and-white cookies.

Posted 3 years ago #
hollyplace
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I love a lot of things at BN, but the roast beef sandwich is IT! Make sure to have them heat if for you!

Posted 3 years ago #
westseattledood
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Jeannie -

Next time you are around 65th and 21st in Ravenna, check out Leah's. I don't recall if they have black & white cookies, though:

http://tinyurl.com/bzauov

Posted 3 years ago #
Jeannie
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Thanks, WSDood. Sadly, Leah's is now closed for retail and does catering only. I was there a few years ago. It was good, but no black-and-whites. The cookies figured prominently in a Seinfeld episode:

Jerry: The key to eating a black and white cookie, Elaine, is you want to get some black and some white in each bite. Nothing mixes better than vanilla and chocolate. And yet, still, somehow racial harmony eludes us. If people would only look to the cookie. All our problems would be solved.

Posted 3 years ago #
swimcat
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I'll be the lone dissenter here- BN is completely overrated and overpriced in my opinion (like most restaurants in this town). I was just walking by yesterday with a friend and made that comment and was shocked that he agreed with me- I feel like me and my sister are the only ones who are not fans of BN. And there has to be a faster way to move that line.

Posted 3 years ago #
anonyme
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Actually, the line moves a little too fast for me! I'm still delighting in the delectables by the time I reach the cash register, wanting to look some more...and then I always buy a chocolate croissant. Best in town.

Posted 3 years ago #
villagegreen
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m- which less expensive bakeries in town do you prefer? I'm all for saving money, but I haven't tasted anything that compares to BN, except maybe Cafe Besalu in Ballard (but they ain't cheap either). I think you get what you pay for.

Posted 3 years ago #
mom2soren
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Stopped by this evening for a few chocolates. Delectable. Also had the best croissant sandwich ever (unheated w/ turkey, havarti, aoli mustard/butter mix). It was HEAVENLY.

Posted 3 years ago #
IslandLvr
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My husband got me the most amazing chocolate cake for my birthday from BN. Sadly, I have not checked the place out myself, but the cake was wonderful and the whole thing got eaten (which is actually rare in our home).

Posted 3 years ago #
Gina
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Do they post the prices/names on the goods now? Or have a menu you can see ahead of time? I haven't gone back since the day I spent guessing what items were, and apparently guessing the names incorrectly, and not knowing what the prices were by osmosis. Guessing "The turkey sandwich looks good" was the wrong thing to guess. (they don't have a turkey sandwich.) I didn't need to take a few more minutes to come up for the right name for the poultry item with cheese on a leavened flour baked good.

If someone clueless, such as me, comes into a shop, says that something looks good, and uses a common name, perhaps answering "That is our wonderful lunch item!" would be the more approriate response.

I usually give a place 3 tries before striking them off my list, but BN knocked it out of the ballpark on the first try.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jerald
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I can't remember what they call it, but I love the big pretzel-shaped thing with olives in it. I usually ask for "that olive thing" and point. It works.

Posted 3 years ago #
Keith
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Gina, they do indeed post prices and names on things now, including the turkey sandwich. :)

Posted 3 years ago #
swimcat
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I'm more of a donut fan- but I do enjoy a good chocolate croissant and I just wasn't impressed with BN's (my sister can't figure out why the croissants in Paris are about half the price of BN's)). My favorite donut shop is long gone- Sophie's Donuts on Eastlake. Amazing donuts, and low prices. I have yet to find a replacement, but will continue to enjoy my search!

Posted 3 years ago #
westseattledood
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m -

have you been to Original Bakery next door to Endolyne Joe's?

Head over mid-morning and try the cake doughnuts! Yummy! And, their honey-drenched bran muffins are friggin' fabulous too, just so you know. :)

Posted 3 years ago #
swimcat
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Dood, i know! I have to check out that bakery since it's not terribly far from my house. If I walk there and back I could try a few things somewhat guilt-free too.

Posted 3 years ago #
carrieann
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Ooh, those bran muffins sound good.
I'm not a fan of the super-sugary frosted/glazed donuts, and much prefer a simple, plain cake donut that has a nice crunch to the outside and melts when you pop a piece into your mouth. Coupled with a big glass of milk or cup of tea (not a coffee drinker. Shh, don't tell my SBUX employee neighbors and family)... Mmmm. I stopped in at The Original Bakery one morning after having brunch at E.J's, and picked out a few things to share with the others. Their cake donuts are quite good. Top Pot's also fit the bill when I'm in the mood.

Posted 3 years ago #
CJS
Member Profile

Love Nouveau

I’ve always been a goodly wife
Committed to the married life
Til last year on that fateful day
A new love stole my heart away

It happened on my morning walk
While in the midst of girlfriend talk
I suddenly became aware
Of something magic in the air

There in, one of the Junction’s nooks
He stood, with smoldering good looks
Just waiting with his treats so rare
To trap me in his lover’s snare

All hopes of my remaining chaste
Where dashed, since he was just my taste
With spice and sweetness quite unique
And buns that made my knees go weak

When I confessed to husband dear,
My lover he refused to fear
And said he liked the way my mood
With this new passion had improved

Now to my love, with wanton lust
I freely go, for I can trust
Each day he’ll have what I most want
A fresh, twice baked, almond croissant

Posted 3 years ago #
WSMom
Member Profile

CJS: I LOVE IT!! Thanks for the day brightener!

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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Don't let anyone tell you these forums aren't GREAT free advertising. After all the talk on this thread I went in for some twice-baked croissants. The staff is really friendly... the stuff is great... I'm saving it to toast in the morning for breakfast! :)

Posted 3 years ago #
Jerald
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That's funny, Cait, it had the same effect on me. I even bought more than I needed and had a twice-baked almond leftover. Even after 2 days sitting in the paper bag, it heated nicely in the oven and was delicious.

Posted 3 years ago #
Wylie_snoop
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due cappuccini per piacere!

Posted 3 years ago #
westseattledood
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Jerald and Cait -

I'm so impressed you could keep twice-baked croissants around for ANY length of time. I'm certain I would immediately dispatch them; delayed gratification is impossible with those things.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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Well... I came home and my boyfriend had gotten us ice cream. So we compromised. Ice cream for dessert... croissant for breakfast. Ask me how my diet is going, I dare you lol!!!

Posted 3 years ago #
Lex
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I'm thinking of just having direct deposit to the bakery or opening up a credit card there. I LOVE that place. Excellent service also. my cousin jusst moved to WS and I gave her a tour, first place on the tour, BN!! that was Sunday..um she has been back twice this week. I'll be stopping by there this afternoon as i'm hankering for a twice baked almond croissant...

Posted 3 years ago #
danielleS
Member Profile

I love love love Bakery Nouveau, and all things offered there. Most recently I bought an entire chocolate cake for my mother's birthday there. It was phenominal. But I have to confess that I have been cheating on them a little bit. For four bucks in Trader Joe's frozen section, you'll find mini (which don't turn out to be very mini!) croissants. I am convinced they are not only as good as BN's, but also as flaky, buttery, and delicious as those you can order from Williams Sonoma. So, while I'll still frequent BN for delicious pastries, cakes, and unbelievably great twice-baked almond croissants, I'll be buying the plain style at Trader's. The other benefit to this is getting to let them rise overnight and then filling my house with the aroma of them baking in the morning!

Posted 3 years ago #
danielleS
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I should mention, that for the $4, you get *8* of those croissants!

Posted 3 years ago #
Caduceus
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Where is this bakery?

I go to the one next to EndyJoes sometimes. They have italian sodas. :]

Posted 3 years ago #
westseattledood
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Caduceus -

BN is in the old Borrachini's store - just north of the sleeper sofa store.

If you go and decide upon a croissant, ask them to gently warm it for you. You will be transported. And, that's pretty much a promise. ;)

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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Danielle... these Trader Joes croissants have me curious now. I bet they're a little healthier too... just a little...

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous
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Is this the place were you can get cakes made to look like body parts or reproductive organs?

Posted 3 years ago #
dawn211
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Luigi - No, it is not. Bakery Nouveau is a high quality french bakery.

I picked up my weekly almond croissant today!

Posted 3 years ago #
Cait
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Luigi - every bakery has a price. I think a crisp hundo would probably at least get you something above-the-waist oriented. Bakery Nouveau would likely be a harder sell than most, though.

Posted 3 years ago #