As I walked through the doors of Uppercrust bakery, I was immediately transported from suburban Gainesville and emerged in bucolic France. With the savory smells of baking bread and the sweet scent of freshly made pastries, I couldn’t help but marvel at the array of glistening goods in the glass cases in front of me.
Greeted by a young woman behind the counter who invoked the image of a local Parisian, complete with black bow in hair, I began to ask about the bakery’s vast selection of foods. With perfect French pronunciation, she described how the daily soups are cooked fresh each morning along with that day’s assortment of breads, pastries and sandwiches. Today’s soups were leek and potato and Italian sausage and lentil, both perfect for the chilly weather that had sprung up outside.
A couple came in while I was browsing and, as clearly experienced patrons of Uppercrust, asked what bread would go best with stew they were making for dinner. The young woman at the counter asked what kind of stew, because of course with such a vast bread selection, one can be picky. After determining that the couple was making beef stew, the woman recommended the rosemary bread, which she said has an especially crusty quality, perfect for their dish.
While the couple ordered, my friend Amanda and I browsed the tiny store. Cozy and brightly lit, the Uppercrust store is set up with its counter of baked goods in the front, while cookbooks, luxury goods and wine fill the back. (You can even peek into the kitchen while strolling past the cookbooks!)
After the couple’s departure I was ready to start working on my order. While the savory turkey and goat cheese French “rose” caught my eye, I was in more of a sweet mood. Unfortunately, this fact did not help me narrow down my options.
In front of me was every version of croissant imaginable, from raspberry to apricot to almond. And the scones came in lemon-poppy seed, orange-walnut, orange-lime, and cherry chocolate. After about 20 minutes deliberating, I selected the Fleur de pistache, or pistachio croissant, and a lemon-poppy seed scone. Amanda, who I can always count on to indulge with me, ordered a cherry chocolate scone and the Peaches and Cream Chausson.
As the woman rang up our orders, I asked about the wine tastings I had read about on their website. She replied that they have wine tastings every Saturday, from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m., and when I asked how much they were, she replied, “Free! And you get either chocolate or cheese to go with it.”
It was at this moment that I seriously considered moving into Uppercrust and never leaving.
At A Glance Details:
Most popular item: Pain au chocolat
Must try: Peaches & Cream Chausson.
Events: Free wine tastings, held every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Hours: Monday — Saturday: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: 116 NW 16th Blvd, Gainesville, FL 32605 (Next to Fresh Market)
Website: http://uppercrustproductions.com
