La Brioche is open at its new location. Photo by Tom Brown
La Brioche, the bakery and café operated by the New England Culinary Institute (NECI), has moved from its longtime location in City Center to the main floor of 118 Main Street, where NECI also operates a restaurant, NECI on Main. The café hours remain the same: 7 am to 2 pm on weekdays, and 9 am to noon on Saturdays.
La Brioche manager Stefanie Pinard, a Montpelier native, said she likes having all the NECI facilities under one roof. “There is good energy here,” she said. “The new space is bigger and more welcoming, and we are getting 100 percent positive feedback. We hope to expand the hours and menu as things grow.” In addition to pastries and cakes, the café offers breakfast sandwiches and waffles in the morning and sandwiches, salads, and two soups for lunch.
When it opened more than 25 years ago, La Brioche was the first café in Montpelier to offer gourmet coffee and pastries, a popular combination that is now available in several locations around town. NECI students have always been involved in the food preparation and baking at La Brioche.
NECI on Main serves dinner both in the downstairs lounge and on the main floor Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5 pm to 8 pm. Live jazz is offered on the third Thursday of every month, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, according to Pinard.
