"This week ""Patisserie Didier Dumas"" opened at 163 Main St, just past the theatre on the South side of the street. Mssr Dumas , from Marseille, was formerly the pastry chef at Jean Jacques, where NYCC Westch rides have frequently stopped. By looks of the goods in the case, he seems to be talented.
Up the road a bit on the North side(256) is the spacious ""La Boqueria/Ned's Irongate Gourmet"" (closed Sundays). On Saturday's ride we stopped there for lunch at Ellen J's suggestion and I had a decent Cuban sandwich.
In addition to quality baked goods, they both offer sandwiches, etc for lunch and the 2d one has racks of gourmet groceries. Both now have indoor tables and will have al fresco dining in the spring.
Main St is the main East-West drag going up from Broadway past Starbucks towards 9W. It eventually becomes cyclist-unfriendly Route 59 which heads towards the largest shopping mall East of the Mississippi."
