Douce Noir (DUE-say na-WAHR)

A.

Portland, Maine, may be well-known for lobster rolls, but its bakeries just took the baking crown making it the Best Bakery City in America, according to the travel, food, and drink site Afar. Portland is known for several award-winning bakeries including Norimoto Bakery, ZU Bakery, and Tandem Coffee + Bakery, which define the city’s focus on high-quality, locally grown and made artisanal products. There is something for everyone from the Japanese-inspired sweet and savory treats at Norimoto to classic Sourdough loaves and croissants at ZU Bakery to the flakey salted buttermilk or jalapeno cheddar biscuits at Tandem.