Dennis C.
Yelp
La Brioche is a new and authentic two-story French bakery that opened in March of this year.
It has broken new ground in Norfolk's culinary landscape with a number of authentic French breads, pastries, and sandwiches, some of which I have never seen before in the area.
Located in the NEON district of Granby Street, its bright pink exterior is sandwiched between the Push Comedy Theater and the Beauty Parlor by Q. Its space was previously occupied by the Parlor on Granby, the Granby Social Club, and the Island Canteen.
It is owned by Jackie and Yvan Devulder, a couple who moved to America from French Guiana a few years ago. Inspired by their vision to open a bakery, they settled in the city of Norfolk and found the NEON district to their liking.
Their passion for quality and authenticity shines through with their offerings. They bake their bread fresh from scratch daily with locally sourced organic flour.
"We try to make the same thing you can find in Paris and everywhere in France," said Yvan Devulder in a recent YouTube interview. Yvan is in charge of the baking and the training of the kitchen staff.
The first floor houses their baking area in the back and their counter and display case in the main area, showcasing a variety of dazzling and eye-popping delicacies. As you enter, there are two tables to the right and a display case of beverages to the left.
The second floor is a bright and airy space with an abundance of natural light provided by a large landscape window with a beautiful view of The Plot, which is the cultural centerpiece of the NEON district. It is here where most of their tables are located.
I have enjoyed the following so far:
A THOUSAND LAYERS: This is a classic vanilla custard French pastry known also by its French name as Mille-feuille. It is made with three layers of puff pastry and two layers of pastry cream, The top layer is dusted with confectioner's sugar and glazed with icing.
This one exhibited a light and airy texture with a flavor that was decadently delicious. It is one of their rotating specialties and not offered every day. If you see it on display, I recommend it most highly. My Rating: 5 Stars.
PEANUT MERVEILLEUX: The word Merveilleux is the French word for "Marvelous" in English. This is a small cake that originated in Belgium before making its way over to France. It consists of two light merringues that have been welded and covered with whipped cream.
The most common version is dusted with chocolate shavings, which was also offered in their display case. Two other varieties were on display, and the peanut version caught my eye the most.
Its interior exhibited a light and creamy texture that contrasted well with its crunchy peanut toppings. The result was a treat that was off the charts delicious. My Rating: 5 Stars.
RAISIN TURNOVER: Known also by its French name as Pain au Raisins. I ordered this one to take home with the intent to eat half and save the rest for later.
After one bite, I couldn't stop and devoured the whole thing. It was insanely addictive. My Rating; 5 Stars.
BLUEBERRY RASPBERRY TART: A variety of tarts have been offered during each of my visits, and this one especially caught my eye. Its fresh and buttery texture sent my taste buds soaring to nirvana. My Rating: 5 Stars.
BLT BAQUETTE: Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato in a Baquette Sandwich. This is one of their regularly featured baquette sandwiches. Others include Ham, Tuna, Italian, Chicken Salad, Brie, and a Veggie Mix.
The baquette was generously stuffed with bacon, lettuce, and tomato, all of which exploded with flavor and a delightful crunch. The baquette was a little tougher than I am used to and gave my jaw quite a workout. My Rating: 4.5 Stars.
Traditional French style baquettes are often known for being for their tough crusts. One English translation for the word baquette is "stick." According to 17th century French lore, wives used to beat their husbands with baquettes when they were angry.
BLT CROISSANT: Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato in a Croissant Sandwich. Other croissant sandwiches offered include Ham & Cheese and Turkey & Cheese.
This one was beautifully constructed from the inside out, visually highlighted by its beautiful crescent shape.
The bread for this one exhibited a softer and more buttery texture than the baquette. Once again, the ingredients exploded with flavor and texture. My Rating: 5 Stars.
Service has been most friendly and accommodating. If you want to enjoy your order upstairs, they will bring it to you.
I have only begun to tap the surface of the variety of the delicacies they offer, which are far too numerous to list here. Be sure to check out their Facebook and Instagram pages for more details.
In addition, they plan to offer something new every week. Each of my future visits will be a new adventure, and I will be eagerly looking forward to each one.
In the meantime, I am unable to hold back with this 5-star rating.