Cobble Hill / Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn ยท shop
On Smith Street in Cobble Hill, a bakery where the bread comes out deliberately darker than anywhere nearby. Bien cuit means 'well done' in French, and it describes both the caramelized crust on the loaves and the standard applied to everything here. The campagne is slow-fermented with a thick, crackly exterior and open crumb; the twice-baked almond croissant arrives buttery and laminated past the point of restraint. Open daily at 7am, and the best loaves sell out.