New Mickael’s bakeshop location near Lindsay’s LCBO

Deck oven coming from Germany for artisan bread baking

Mickaël’s Cafe Librairie is on the move, but don’t expect to find discounted, day-old baked goods at the new location. Owner Mickaël Durand can’t keep up with customer requests for his bagels, artisan bread, desserts, pretzels and other delights at his locations in Lindsay and Omemee. “We sell out daily and we can’t fulfil the demand. Our new location will allow us to expand baking capabilities,” the baker noted.

Indeed, the baker and his staff go through about 200 kilograms of flour per day, necessitating a new location more suitable for this scale of baking. The space at 449 Kent Street West plaze (beside Symposium Restaurant) ticked all the boxes. It needed to have space and electrical capacity for a serious baking operation to fulfil hundreds of orders a week. The baker says it did not hurt that the LCBO is in the same plaza.

After seven years in the Reeds Plaza on Kent Street in Lindsay and opening a second location in Omemee almost three years ago, Durand could not install a deck oven in either location. Deck ovens are the centrepiece of artisan bread baking — a crucial item in the kitchen to produce exquisite, crusty loaves of bread. Durand says 80 per cent of bread in European bakeries is done in a deck oven.

“It creates a shock of heat at the beginning of the process and creates a real crust under and around the loaves.” Durand’s deck oven is coming from Germany and will be the only one in the area. Deck ovens use less energy as well as elevate bread to the European standard. Durand should know — he also has a bakeshop in Brittany, France.

Pretzels are the most popular items flying out the door. Durand says he considers them a snack bread. “You eat them instead of chips.” He notes they freeze well, too. “It’s an amazing product and will drive lots of sales because everyone loves pretzels.” There are several types including hot dog pretzels, pretzel loaves and giant pretzels that are available plain, with cheese or sesame seeds.

The new storefront will feature only the most popular items. Durand tells his customers not to worry though, as the bakery’s full menu is available online to order for pickup or home delivery for items not featured in the new storefront location. A new, easy-to-navigate website is in the works.

A busy enterprise cannot function without skilled staff. Mallorie Mitchell bakes for Durand and will come on board at the new location as co-owner. There are opportunities for job seekers in the new shop as well, even if they’ve never worked in a bakery. Durand says he has already started hiring and will look for five more full-time employees soon.

Durand says the success of his business surprised him. He credits it to word of mouth and offering high-quality baked goods at reasonable prices. “I wouldn’t sell a product unless I am very happy with it myself. We offer it super-fresh and last minute.”

The original Mickaël’s in the Reeds Plaza in Lindsay closed to walk-in customers at the beginning of the pandemic. It will reopen to the public on March 1 as a transition to the new location.

Once the new location opens June 1, the original location will close and be used as a delivery hub. The new location and Omemee shop will be open for order pickups or to grab and go.