Ever since moving to the US from Belgium, I have craved Belgian bread.  Funny how you take things for granted all your life and only realize that they are special when you no longer have them.  The Wonder bread invention skipped our tiny country, we just stuck with old fashioned bakeries where the baker slaves through the night to present us with our fresh loaf in the morning.

I have experimented with my own bread machine and I tried the ‘no knead bread‘ – yummy, but still not quite what I was looking for. I have saved a long list of bakeries on Favrit, my local bookmarking app, and I have quizzed fellow Belgians… I found some substitutes, but not the real thing.  Until today!!!

I was walking in downtown Mountain View in search for a place to have coffee, when I came across Alexander’s Patisserie.  The inviting white and airy design of the store/cafe compelled me inside.  There, a world of fine patisserie, exquisite chocolates and macarons opened.  There were several delicious croissants and danish to choose from to accompany my Intelligentsia coffee.  But above all, there was that Belgian bread I had been looking for for years.  I bought my whole grain loaf, sliced and wrapped in a paper bag (the only way to keep bread crusts crusty!).  Yes, it is the real deal!

I plan many returns.  I want to try more of the artful creations by Belgian Pastry Chef Dries Delanghe. And it is great place to quietly enjoy a coffee, read and write or to take some friends.

Alexander’s Patisserie
209 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94041

T: 650.864.9999
F: 650.864.9998