This robust and iconic Atlanta bakery has two locations: The Intown original, which gobbled up nearly every adjacent storefront as it expanded, and the suburban sequel, which took over a massive franchise food shop. There was some considerable grumbling when owner Alon Balshan moved the bakery operation to the ’burbs and deprived his longtime customers the Sunday-morning scent of fresh bread. But the expansion did allow him to increase his ambition. Gorgeous chocolate truffles, wood-oven pizza, and all-natural house gelato have been hallmarks of the new location. Yet his business is still built on country French bread, cinnamon scones that burst with poppy chunks of candied ginger, and the definitive Midnight Chocolate Cake, which combines dark layers of devil’s food with white chocolate mousse in lieu of icing. The great chocolate chip pecan cookies are now available raw, by the tube, to cook at home.
Photo: Becky Stein Photography
