One of the assortments that will make you drool
Between 3 and 11 seconds, that is the average time that a shop window has to capture the attention of the potential client.
And in this field, Mercedes Linero has an advantage, because there is no passer-by who does not stop to observe the delicious jewels that this Galician chef exhibits behind the large window of her pastry-gourmet shop, ** Le Bec-Fin, ** which in French means 'thin snout', or as the most posh would say, of refined taste.
This is the bakery-boutique that triumphs in the Salamanca district
“See those orchids? They have been on the counter since September 28, the day we opened the bakery. I still don't know how they hold up”, says Mercedes.
This Galician chef, coming from a family of expert chefs and trained in prestigious French schools such as Bellouet Council either Lenotre de Paris , she had been wanting to undertake her own project for some time when she came across this small place in the Neighborhood of salamanca.
The products are like little pieces of jewelry with the advantage that they can be eaten!
“I wanted to bet on a new concept, that of pastry shop-boutique, something that I have found when traveling to other cities, that chic corner where you can enjoy a coffee with an artisanal dessert”, explains Mercedes.
The workshop, located below the pastry shop, has the expert hands of the master pastry chef Peter Bas In addition, they have two other people working on the premises.
“Every morning at 5 we start baking the products of the day, and we are always introducing novelties”, tells us Mayte Liñero, the daughter of Mercedes and co-founder of this cafeteria-gourmet.
Maite recently left her job at the Hotel Único, where she was lucky enough to be able to work alongside chef Ramón Freixa, to dedicate herself to Le Bec-Fin full time.
A delicious and colorful gift: any of Le Bec-Fin's biscuit assortments
The inspiration? “Without a doubt, French, but with touches from all over the world”, explains Maite, who confesses to being an inveterate traveler.
“We have been in Spain for eight years, before we lived in Mexico, and recently we have been touring Asia, where we brought the yuzu to make our tartlet”.
But let's open the oven and start to warm up. First of all, the pastries , who does not like to start the day with a warm croissant and a coffee with milk?
At Bec-Fin they make all their products with flour and butter from France, and you can also order them to go.
Of course, if you decide to stay at the bar, your eyes will inevitably be diverted towards its colorful windows, where the pastels are displayed with great care, as if they were jewels, and the shine of their small works of art has nothing to envy to that of the precious stones.
The aroma of freshly baked bread and croissants brightens the morning even for the most grumpy
One of the star products is the caramelized pear, a delicious compote of pear and exotic fruits, covered by a creamy chocolate mousse and a chocolate coating.
But the choice is anything but easy, because next to the pear is the cupcake with violet essence , the cheesecake and the crunchy chocolate hemisphere.
Further up, and yelling “eat me”, we find the Tiramisu , the strudel and some sweets based on apple and cider
You're getting dizzy, we know it, hold on and don't pass out yet. The cabinet next to it contains cakes, chocolates, macarons and pots of sweet and salty cookies -It would be a sin to leave without trying the Roquefort cheese –.
The caramelized pear, a delicacy to the test of the most demanding palates
"One of the things that our customers ask for the most are cappuccinos," says Mercedes.
Also have integral and gluten-free pastries, savory products and the coffee they serve, Specialty Coffee , is the only one in the area with this distinction. The most 'fine snouts' cannot leave without trying Valrhona chocolate, a benchmark in haute confectionery.
"We have regular customers, who come for their tray of cakes every weekend, to buy bread or order catering for a special occasion."
Everyone who enters calls Mercedes by her name , and the curious who do it for the first time will soon return asking for it.
Violet-essence cakes, one of the stars of Le Bec-Fin!
“At the moment we are not considering large-scale home delivery, but we do accept small orders. If this keeps up, we're going to have to buy a truck!" mother and daughter joke.
Whether you are more of breakfast or snacks, cake or cookies, to drink or to take away...
Bec-Fin is your charming corner where give yourself a treat after a day of shopping, buy that tray of cupcakes with which to look great on any occasion or why not, order your wedding cake.
Bon appétit!
All the French savoir faire concentrated in a showcase
Mercedes Liñero, the head behind the chic-gourmet concept of Le Bec-Fin
Address: Claudio Coello 58, Madrid See map
Telephone: 911 63 74 68
Schedule: From Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:30. Saturdays from 10:30 to 20:30. Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.