Gourmet Provence

So pleasantly surprised to find this awesome addition to Brandon! Visited twice during the weekend. Fabulous lattes… got some breakfast treats… a homemade muffin and spinach feta croissant. All made fresh and delicious. We didn’t buy any of the products on display but we sure were tempted! Brandon seems to be a growing little food Mecca.

This is a little gem of a bakery in a town where such fine things didn’t recently exist.
I grew up just north of Brandon and until Gourmet Provence and Café Provence opened on the main street a handful of years ago, Brandon was becoming a bit of a cultural ghost town. Fortunately, fine food attracts tourists and foodies and the like, and now people have more of a reason to visit Brandon. Lots of little shops have opened their doors in recent years, though whether Brandon can make an economic comeback is still up in the air…
The two owners of Gourmet and Café Provence are from the Provence region of France. The husband, a chef, is the creator of some fabulous food!
Many probably thought the French owners took quite a gamble opening their shops in Brandon, which is a lovely town to look at, but didn’t have much commerce or boast any great restaurants until these shops moved in.
Gourmet Provence is especially known for its pastries, made-​to-​order cakes and elegant desserts, but the store also has a nice selection of local cheeses, patés, gourmet condiments and Vermont specialty products, as well as imported vinegars and organic pastas.
For lunch the shop offers panini, sandwiches and wraps, as well as salads. I love their quiche Lorraine. The selection is always changing.
Additionally, Gourmet Provence’s specialty gift room has Pre de Provence Soaps, La Rochere Glassware and April Cornell linens, and the wine room has hundreds of local, domestic and imported wines.
I only go to Brandon to eat at Gourmet Provence or its sister restaurant Café Provence. It’s a beautiful little town with lovely old houses and vistas. In its hay day more than a century ago, the town must have been bustling with business and wealth (as the large and lovely old houses that line the streets would indicate). I highly recommend Brandon for a day excursion. Visit Gourmet Provence or Café Provence, you’re sure to like one or both!