Business & Tech
Meet A Proprietor: Xaviar de Marchi
This baker stays true to his roots and rewards beach goers with croissants, eclairs and espresso.
offers a French alternative to bacon and eggs. Xaviar de Marchi and his wife, Valerie, have owned the bakery for 10 years. They had a shop in France before they decided to move to the town where they’d vacationed before.
By early August, they will expand into a cafe and serve crepes and sandwiches in addition to traditional French pastries. “We just got the final approval today,” he shared, proudly.
Some may have heard their story in the news a couple years ago when de Marchi’s visa renewal got denied. His beloved bakery almost closed down, but thanks to their friends and the local community getting 4,000 signatures on a petition, the visa went through.
“I would never proclaim to be a chef or a master,” de Marchi said, “It’s a life long learning experience.” He explained that he had to recreate all of his recipes when he moved here, because all the ingredients are so different.
“Artisan starts with art,” he remarks with a smile. He says when someone asks him how long it takes to bake the bread, he answers “I don’t know! I don’t use a timer, I use my eyes and I know when my bread is ready.”
He is determined to keep the atmosphere authentic by playing French music and even airing rugby and the Tour de France in what will soon be the cafe. De Marchi has brought a little piece of home with him, and a bit of European culture to the beach.
