French Desserts | The Most Authentic and Thoughtful French Baking
MADO Paris French Bakery & Cafeš« š® Today was a spontaneous visit to a place that wasnāt on my list (and actually not in Charlotte). Iāve had this bakery saved in my bookmarks for a while, but the distant location (all the way in Rock Hill, South Carolina) and the limited operating hours (closes at 4 PM) always kept me away. However, their promotional images were always so enticing. I decided to drop by this afternoon out of sheer boredom. Obviously, thereās a reason for the early closure; the store was left with only a few cream puffs and tarts. The staff mentioned that thereās usually a line outside before they even open, suggesting I come in the morning next time. š® I ordered a latte, which I found to be one of the better ones in Charlotte, with a nice extraction and a pleasant coffee bean taste. I have to mention, coffee in North American cafes seems a bit too casualā¦ The machines are good but often over-extract, leading to a strong bitter taste and loss of flavor. I also tried the chocolate and vanilla cream puffs; the vanilla had a subtle flavor with visible vanilla seeds; the chocolate was my favorite, with the cocoa powder balancing the sweetness nicely. Lastly, the pistachio cream puff tart was the sweetest, with a rich pistachio flavor. š® The bakery usually offers traditional French pastries like cannelĆ©s, madeleines, and croissants. I spotted T45 and T65 flours when I entered the store, which are quite rare in the U.S. as most bakeries use local flour. The chef confidently claimed that they are the best bakery in the entire Charlotte and Atlanta areas because all their ingredients are imported from France. Iām curious about why they chose such a remote spot, but the chef mentioned they are planning to move to Charlotte, so everyone will soon be able to enjoy top-notch French desserts! #NorthCarolina #CharlotteNC #CharlotteFrenchDesserts #CharlotteCuisine #SouthCarolina #SouthCarolinaCuisine