Albemarle Baking Company adds American flair to European style
Nestled in the flourishing row of businesses located along Charlottesville’s West Main Street sits the Albemarle Baking Company. The aroma of artisan-baked goods emanates from this community staple, located at 418 West Main Street.
The bakery lies alongside eleven locally owned and operated specialty stores known as the Main Street Market. The Main Street location has been operating successfully for thirteen years. The Albemarle Baking Company, which had originally been located on the downtown mall, relocated to a larger space on West Main after examining its prospects of expanding to accommodate their growing business.
Since then, it has garnered a strong following, including several of the University’s faculty and staff. Owner Gerry Newman describes the Albemarle Baking Company as being heavily influenced by a “European style” of baking. Newman, who first apprenticed for a Swiss Master Baker in Seal Beach, California, has noticed a rise in the number of local bakeries in the surrounding area. What seems to set Albemarle Baking Company apart from the others is its distinctive baking style and methods. “Everybody has their niche; some people do cupcakes, and some do very American style cookies and cakes. Ours is a particular niche: Americans doing classic European style,” Newman said. The bakery also offers traditional American goods, some made using French techniques. Overall, there are a wide variety of breads, cakes and pastries the bakery has for sale.
Another standard is their attention to artisan baking, which imparts the opportunity for the use of local ingredients. According to Newman, the Bakery “sources whatever they can” from local farms such as eggs from Timber Creek Organics, meat products from Rock Barn, cornmeal from Woodsen Mill, as well as cheese from Caramount Farms. “It is by design that we use what is locally available to us,” said Newman.
Moving into the fall season, customers can expect the continued use of local ingredients, including apples from Henley’s Orchard in Crozet, skillfully utilized in items like the Apple Honey Cake, as well as Albemarle’s popular pies and tarts. Breads made with cranberries and nuts become popular holiday gift offerings. The bakery recently introduced a limited fall offering, the Shenandoah Cake, a masterpiece that features caramel mousse, roasted pears, and maple-glazed walnuts in vanilla cake. Albemarle also makes imaginative use of local Thibaut-Janisson Winery’s Virginia Brute in this cake’s phenomenal topping. Another fall treat features the bakery’s own take on the very popular Parisian Macaroons, in an assortment of flavors.
Albemarle Baking Company’s original and unique approach to artisanal baking is setting a standard within the Charlottesville community. The Albemarle Baking Company hosts an impressive menu all year long, which can be found online at albemarlebakingco.com. As the leaves turn and temperatures drop this autumn season, the Albemarle Baking Company will continue to offer seasonal flavors with a variety of local ingredients.
