Darlington - Clervaux Bakery

Earlier this year I'd dash home from work to watch the latest recording of Britain's Best Bakery.  I'm full of admiration for bakers, and the standards in this competition have been extremely high.  When I learnt that one of the entrants did fine pâtisserie, had a café and was in Darlington - I thought that'll be Robineau (one of my favourite visits last year). However I was wrong!

So I watched and learnt about the wonderful Clervaux Bakery:

The more I heard about this bakery, the more I wanted to visit.

They make a wide range of delicious artisan breads every morning and use only the very best ingredients including organic flours and local produce:

They're listed in the Real Bread Finder, their white organic tin loaves are proved overnight to make a better loaf.  

They do a cheese & onion bread, and their sourdough boule uses wild yeast and is proved slowly over 24 hours to give a distinctive flavour and delicious crust: 

There's also multigrain and rye, date and pecan bread and these pretty batons: 

They do a good selection of rolls:

They also make delicious croissants, scones and some really nice teacakes:

They make vanilla and cinnamon palmiers:

and there's desserts like treacle tart or double chocolate brownies.

At the back of the shop:

there's an attractive café:

We were there at breakfast time, and couldn't decide whether to go for a continental breakfast:

or the full English:

Both were really nice.

If you're there at lunchtime there's light meals like this Chickpea, Panzella Salad - with chickpeas, tomato, cucumber, pepper, croutons lemon oil & balsamic:

Or salmon coconut & wild rice salad - with garlic, lime, pepper & pepper yoghurt

Or you could have a Bishops Rarebit - organic ale and caramelised onions on cheese and onion bread served with home made chutney:

Best of all, at the very back, is a viewing window:

where you can watch them making the bread and cakes:

The bakery works with the Clervaux Trust, a local charity, supporting vulnerable adults. So not only are you eating great food in a lovely setting, you're also helping to make the world a better place.

They're also getting a new name – Olivia’s Artisan Bakery and Cafe which their other bakeries (in Northallerton, Thirsk and now also Stokesley) are already using.

Clervaux Bakery
38 Coniscliffe Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 7RG

Tel: 01325 351879

Web: www.oliviasbakeryandcafe.co.uk