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| - The problem with finding a hotel right next to a top notch bakery like Mamie Clafoutis is that you become far too lazy to make the effort to find other dining options, especially since the bakery is open till 8 pm on most days.
Mamie Clafoutis is on the other end of the spectrum from Patisserie Au Kouign Amann when it comes to selection of items - I believe they must carry close to a 100 items across the croissants, breads, sandwiches, quiches, pastries.... just looking at breads, I counted 18 different versions one day: from the ubiquitous Baguette to Apricots and hazelnut, blue cheese ficelle, pumpernickel, Olives Fougasse. The breadth of their display case is truly amazing.
But, it's also likely why I can't point to any one particular amazing, wow! moment. So, yes: I really liked the pistachio croissant (delicate, but distinctly nutty) and the "Oh Mon Dieu" Chocolatine filled generously with quality chocolate, but while these two croissants were nice, crispy/crunchy, there wasn't any flakiness and no textural variation - it was only one note. Similarly the Pistachio, Almond, and Cranberry square that seductively teased me while bookmarking Mamie C a few months back promised more on the screen than it delivered in actuality.
What brought me back repeatedly to the bakery was its strength as a boulangerie. The breads are great, I could eat them by themselves with no accompaniment. One in particular was a Blue Cheese bread with nuts (walnut?). The breads lend themselves to some really great sandwiches in one of the display cases.
Given their focus on sandwiches, there's ample seating capacity inside the bakery with a lounge on the 2nd floor affording one to linger and relax - a feature that sets Mamie apart from most other boulangeries nearby where not only is seating limited, but your knee is also bumping into the table right next to you.
(4.5 stars)
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