Raphaël’s Bakery Opens in Greenwich with Authentic French Baked Goods

At CTbites, we like to feature the voices of food lovers of all ages. Please welcome a new writer from Staples High School, Camille Vynerib.

This winter break I was unable to go on vacation due to COVID-19. However, the instant I walked into Raphaël’s Bakery in Greenwich, this snowy morning, I found I was able to catch a glimpse of France. The wonderful smells that immediately hit me as I opened the door, the beautiful pastries, and the delicious hot cocoa and baked goods, all were a treat to the senses. 

Amidst the pandemic, Raphaël’s Bakery has brought an authentic French experience to Greenwich, Connecticut. Raphaël, a third-generation baker born in Brittany, France, and his wife Charlotte Dequeker finally had their dream become a reality when they opened their doors this past December. 

When the family of five moved to Connecticut, Valbella, an upscale Italian restaurant, also in Greenwich, was seeking a new pastry chef. It was obvious that Raphaël was the perfect candidate; he remained as the Executive Pastry Chef for almost 18 years until the restaurant was forced to temporarily shut down due to the pandemic. This was when Raphaël and Charlotte decided to make their move and open up their new family-run bakery. Although they had toyed with the idea for years, the opportunity had never arisen up until this point. Kelian Dequeker, Raphaël and Charlotte’s son, explained that the pandemic has “been a blessing for us. In a weird way, it has made this bakery possible.”

The bakery offers a large variety of baked goods that are authentic to France, including baguettes, croissants, éclairs, pain au chocolat, pain de campagne, chouquettes, and macarons. A variety of delicious cookies, sandwiches, and beverages are also available. Although these are staples at the bakery, you should expect to see different desserts almost every day. The menu is always changing! 

One of the family’s favorite items is the Kouign Amann, a specialty from Raphaël’s hometown. This delicious dessert is prepared with the same dough used in the croissants but is layered with butter and sugary goodness. Customer favorites include plain croissants, varieties of cookies, and baguettes. All are absolutely delicious!

Amongst the numerous baked goods that I was able to enjoy, I found it hard to choose just one favorite! The bakery’s baguettes were light and fluffy on the inside yet had the perfect crust. I was lucky enough to receive a baguette straight out of the oven! Obviously, they are a must-have when you visit the bakery! Additionally, the chocolate chip and walnut cookies were loaded with huge chocolate chunks and walnuts that genuinely set the cookie apart from those you would find elsewhere. The croissants were decadent and extremely buttery. Seriously, check out the layers! Onto the chouquettes. The eggy, pillowy cream puffs are topped with pearl sugar and make for a delicious and light pastry. As mentioned before, the menu at Raphaël’s Bakery is always changing; today, the special was vanilla éclairs. The pastry is made with choux dough and is filled with cream and topped with vanilla icing. It was absolutely amazing! 

This is a true family affair -- even Charlotte’s mother bakes with the family most mornings. The environment and kindness of the employees at Raphaël’s Bakery alone are enough to pull any passerby into this store. 

Be sure to check out Raphaël’s Bakery on 146 Mason Street - Greenwich, Connecticut!