Updated – 9:30 a.m., April 17 – La Bohemia Bakery Takes Over Where Saint Michel Left Off
You wouldn’t be faulted for thinking that the new Rockville bakery—La Bohemia Bakery—is very similar to the former Saint Michel bakery.
It occupies the former space of Saint Michel at 5540 Wilkins Court, it uses the Saint Michel equipment that was imported from France, and the business even sells its flaky croissants and other baked goods at the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market in Bethesda on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday—as Saint Michel did.
The new owners—Ed and Altyn Maguin, a couple from the Czech Republic—were personally trained by Bertrand Houlier, the owner of Saint Michel, before he moved back to France after the bakery closed in November.
Ed Maguin said he and his wife moved to America in August, and soon after found out about Saint Michel closing. He said his wife formerly ran a small family hotel in Prague and they jumped at the opportunity to take over the business. So they bought the equipment from Houlier and he trained them. Then for about two months in early 2015, they used the employees of the surrounding businesses near the bakery to test out the recipes–in order to make sure they were creating the same quality Saint Michel had offered.
By mid-March, Maguin said they had the recipes down and they reopened the bakery under a new name. They later negotiated with the Farm Women's Market to begin selling the baked goods at the market as well. Maguin says the previous customers have noticed the bakery's return.
"We're pretty excited because we have returning customers," Maguin said.
The menu includes French baguettes ($2.05 each), croissants ($1.85 each), country loafs ($3.15 each) and sandwiches like roast beef ($5.45) and Caprese ($5.45).
Photo of Bethesda Lane by Emma Harris
Bethesda Row Restaurant Week Starts Monday
It’s that time of year again—Bethesda Row restaurants will be offering special prix fixe menus during lunch and dinner service next week. Bethesda Row restaurant week starts Monday and will run until April 26. Participating restaurants—including American Tap Room, Jaleo, Luke’s Lobster, Vino Volo, Mussel Bar and Grille and more—will be offering $15 two-course lunch menus and $30 three-course dinner menus. You can view the restaurant week menus for each participating restaurant by clicking here.
All Set Restaurant Opens
The New England concept All Set Restaurant & Bar officially opened in downtown Silver Spring on Tuesday. The new restaurant features a seafood-heavy menu and even plans to host Sunday clam bakes for $35 per person that feature lobster, shrimp, potatoes, corn on the cob and littleneck clams. Restaurateurs Jennifer Meltzer and Chef Edward Reavis are behind the concept. The two met while opening the Capital Grille in Chevy Chase and most recently Reavis worked at Cru Oyster Bar in Nantucket, Massachusetts, honing his New England-style cooking.
