Lest we forget the best of the past year, check out our top ten favorites of 2024. Number 10 and 9 are bakery cafes!
Vincent’s Bistro & Bakery (Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth Beach) in the heart of artsy Lake Worth Beach is the brainchild of Chef Vincent Durin and wife, Christine. For a brief Parisian-style respite, place your order at the indoor baked goods display and take a seat in the outdoor garden or cozy dining room. Choose croissants, raspberry and strawberry brioche, eclairs, lemon meringue tarts and, on Sat. & Sun., Napoleons. Traditional brunch plates include Leek & Cheese Quiche; Potato, Garlic and Cheese Quiche; various three-egg omelets with salad; Escargot Brioche (Sat. & Sun.); and “Le Farmer” Ciabatta sandwich of grilled chicken, eggplant & Brie. Our favorites: Provencal Chicken Pie and Beef Bourguignon Pie.
Aioli (S. Dixie Hwy s. of Forest Hill Blvd.), the bakery dreams are made of, utilizes more butter daily than any other “serious” bakery we’ve found. Besides amazing breads (seeded sourdough, walnut raisin), layer cakes (coconut, carrot) and fantastic biscuits (cheddar-chive on Saturdays only), Aioli knocks it out of the park with puff pastry. French techniques produce American-sized, creatively flavored pastries that never disappoint. The Brown Sugar Brioche, Chocolate Brioche, Orange Cardamom Brioche, chocolate and almond croissants and many more are wonderful! Hot beverages, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and daily takeout dinner are always excellent.
