Who wouldn’t love to be Anna, treated to this sweet creation? Doré Bakery will specialize in such custom confections.
By Wini Moranville
A former boulangerie (bread bakery) is being transformed into a pâtisserie (pastry shop), with a projected opening date of end-August. Des Moines food industry veteran Michael LaValle plans to operate Doré Bakery in the Union Street site of the former South Union Bakery, the bread bakery that LaValle and George Formaro opened in 1996. (South Union Bakery now operates out of Gateway Market.)
Doré means “golden” in French, and executive chef Nik Pugmire says he chose the term because it “relates to a product that is high quality and perfect as it can be.” The term also relates to the art of pastry making. “Golden is usually the peak timing of desserts—golden brown cookies or a cake that looks golden before you take it out of the oven, or caramel that has a golden color.”
Pugmire is currently the executive pastry chef with the Port of Des Moines, LaValle’s catering and events business. He comes by way of Chicago, where at a young age he helped his mother craft wedding cakes out of her home-based business. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas in 2007, Pugmire gained a decade-plus of experience in kitchens including the Westin O’Hare, Marriott Chicago Downtown and Allium Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago.
According to spokesman Jake Miller, the goal of Doré is to raise the level of desserts in Des Moines by offering custom-ordered scratch-made special-occasion confections. “This will not be another cupcake joint,” Miller says. “Nik produces wonderful macaroons, layered tea cakes, rustic tarts and elaborate wedding cakes along with other more classic dessert options with a modern spin and presentation.”
When it opens, the bakery will operate at 1701 S. Union St.—but don’t just pop in for a cookie. To start, the bakery will not offer retail (i.e., grab and go) sales; rather, custom orders will need to be placed in advance. Currently, to inquire about placing an order, call the Port of Des Moines office at 515-330-1517.
Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook accounts have all been set up @dorebakerydsm. Pug’s professional Instagram page—with dozens of photos of his work—is @nikpugpastry.
