Tucked away in the gorgeous, tree-lined Manchester suburb of Didsbury, you’ll be hard-pushed to find any shopfront that could do with a lick of paint. But the wonderful bakery that is La Chouquette has the charm and the substance, becoming a favourite amongst both locals and those from far and wide in the past few years, with a long, winding queue particularly on the weekends.
La Chouquette takes its name from a type of viennoiserie, a small choux pastry sprinkled with pearl sugar. They are said to be deliciously golden and crispy on the outside, and soft and hollow on the inside, ready to be filled with something tasty – which could be a description of the bakery itself.
Adorned with the most handsome royal blue out front, you could be forgiven for thinking you were walking along the Champs-Élysées in Paris when you pass by La Chouquette, drawing you inside with the sight and smell of the tasty treats within.
Not only do the artisan masters serve a wonderful pistachio croissant (what dreams are made of) most days, but the menu spans classics and mouth-watering inventions alike. On a daily basis you’ll see the likes of cinnamon buns, cardamom buns, cherry crème brûlée, apple compote, and incredible bread including garlic and rosemary, olive sourdough, bacon and cheese, chorizo and chilli, tomato and basil focaccia, rosemary and sea salt focaccia, and chocolate bread – as well as a variety of beautiful cakes AND sourdough pizzas… absolutely heavenly!
The artistry shown in the cakes and tarts at La Chouquette is also something to fawn over and could win the Great British Bake Off no problem – not kidding. The French theme comes through in all of their bakes, creating a refreshing palette of choices for any sweet tooth, including the fruit and mousse topped raspberry and vanilla cake which involves a raspberry financier base (a small French almond cake, flavoured with beurre noisette).
What’s more, the award-winning bakery boasts many other fantastically French options including the traditional French galette and beautifully baked Madeleines. You can also easily get your macaron or éclair fix, just make sure you give them a visit early doors before they’re wiped out as usual!
La Crouquette was brought to life in lockdown by professional baking couple Mairead Deignan and Florent Verove, with a commitment to making absolutely everything on-site with fresh, French ingredients.
Just months after launching, the couple expanded La Chouquette into the next-door unit due to demand, meaning they’re working with much more kitchen space and are able to keep up with the demand of customers queuing around the corner every single weekend!
We count ourselves extremely lucky to have La Chouquette just down the road in Didsbury and one thing we can say for sure: it’s worth the bus or tram ride out of town and standing in the queue for as long as it takes. Whether you’re after a pistachio or almond-filled croissant, or something more extravagant, you’ll most likely be back for more.
📍 La Chouquette, 812a Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester, M20 6UH.