PicoBlog

Copain is, almost quite literally, a hidden gem. She’s that girl that’s been in every single one of your classes from 4th grade to senior year of high school but some how you’re just now meeting her for the first time at graduation and are hitting it off as best friends (not conveniently, you now have to go separate ways and have to do a long-distance friendship). So you think to yourself, woe to all the years past where we could’ve been bosom buddies, but God’s timing is perfect and at least you’ve got her now!

Similarly, if you know to look, you’ll find a lot of Copain’s breads acting as building blocks for various local restaurants’ entrées, Copain’s pastries supporting the baked goods cases of many coffee shops, Copain’s menu items being catered for parties, events, and holiday occasions. Oftentimes, you’ll know her first by her influence on Charlotte’s gastronomic culture versus her homebase brick-n-mortar next to South Park mall.

So, when you try and find her, it may be hard at first. You’ll have to pass by the Rooster’s Wood Fired Kitchen and garden decorations shop and not let those signs lead you astray. Keep going and you’ll find her tucked away in the back corner of the mini (and half-abandoned) shopping center with beautiful indoor patio seating sprawled all around her front entrance.

My favorite thing about her? There is so much beauty and class in the packaging they send you home with when you buy anything that it feels like the moment they put that purchase in their box or bag, the product value increased by a million bucks. Who needs to gift a box of Ladurée macarons when you could bring a box of Copain pastry items for half the price and make that person feel just as special?

Now onto a couple of the menu offerings…

Reviews on the munchies pictured above:

Matcha Croissant: I mean, beautiful amiright?! The croissant is flaky and Copain really fills that baby to the brim. The matcha cream is a good balance of matcha flavor & sweetness, with a viscosity as runny as Bavarian cream. (rating: 8.5/10)

Tomato Feta Danish: gives major cold pizza vibes, which I LOVED. The crust is like a puff pastry texture, and the filling had the savory-ness of pepperoni, but it definitely was vegetarian. (rating: 10/10)

Strawberry Galette: perfecto—sweet-sour macerated strawberries hugged by a pie crust. And I’m 100% living for the turbinado sugar crunch on top 😍 (rating: 10/10)

Cinnamon Roll: same complaint I have with most cinnamon rolls not from Cinnabon—the filling was more sweet than cinnamon. But I just like a very cinnamon-y cinnamon roll :) (rating: 3/10)

Ham & Cheese Croissant: love the crispy charred broil of the cheese & ham peaking out, and the croissant was satisfyingly flaky (rating: 9/10)

if you’re on the run…

Reviews on the munchies pictured above:

Orzo Pasta Salad: BOMB flavors. Think Mediterranean-lemon-refreshing-wow. This opened my eyes to the world of orzo pasta dishes; I would totally get this again or try and make it at home! (rating: 10/10)

Chicken Caesar Salad: the Caesar dressing is PEAK (they make it in-house!), the usage of breadcrumbs is texturally delightful, and I really enjoyed how they use mixed power greens versus just plain romaine (I feel like I’m getting something useful out of this salad). P.S. it comes with chicken. Could it get any better? (rating: 10/10)

or if you have time to spare and dine-in…

Reviews on the munchies pictured above:

Spinach Feta Quiche: the spinach is well seasoned and the texture of the quiche body was just the right amount of creamy & togetherness. Only complaint is that there’s not more! (rating: 8/10)

French Toast Casserole: very much cinnamon monkey bread vibes; a good mixture of caramelized sugar crunchy crust and soft moist fluffy French toast textures. Great flavor, which can be rare in French toast. We asked for a side of honey to eat it with, which leveled up the experience! (rating: 7/10 without honey; 7.8/10 with honey)

Turkey Panini: a good amount of sliced turkey, though it could’ve been more evenly distributed between the bread (it was very bunched up in the middle and nothing on the edges). The panini as a whole was sweeter than I would’ve preferred (so I could do with less pepper jam) (rating: 6/10)

Tomato Soup: would be too salty on its own, but when combined with the grilled cheese (or other sandwich/bread), it was just right. Very creamy and well-seasoned. (rating: 10/10 with grilled cheese; 5/10 if eaten on its own)

Pimento Grilled Cheese: a great golden toast on the sourdough, a lovely ratio of cheese to bread. The grilled cheese had good flavor on its own but was absolutely hands down elevated when dipped in the tomato soup! I don’t eat grilled cheese + tomato soup often, but this one from Copain allowed me to understand why people do. (rating: 10/10 with the tomato soup; 7.5/10 if eaten on its own)

address // 6601 Carnegie Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28211

operations // Monday - Saturday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM; Sunday, CLOSED.

logistics // ample parking in the lot out front, they are located inside a larger building that also houses Rooster’s Wood-Fired Kitchen

vibes // More of a gathering space than a working space (unless you have a hotspot)

amenities //

menu //

• beverages ($3.50 - $7.00, not including alcoholic beverages): coffee, espresso, tea, cocoa; wine by the glass

• bakery goods ($3.50 - $5.00): muffins, scones, cookies, brownies, pies, tarts, cinnamon rolls; macarons

• boulangerie ($4.50 - $10.00): baguettes, focaccia, seeded loaf, ciabatta, sourdough, etc.

• viennoiserie ($3.50 - $6.50): croissants (almond, chocolate, plain, etc.), danishes

• pâtisserie ($3.50 - $8.00): small tarts, macarons, éclairs

• food food ($5.50 - $16.00): quiche, soups, sandwiches

• provisions: soups, sauces, jams, pickles, bottles of wine; cookbooks, granola, other fun things

• ready-made food ($4.50 - $16.00): parfaits, quiche, sandwiches, salads; pastas + casseroles + etc.

recs //

• ready-made foods: the Caesar salad is 10/10; dressing is house made and delicious, and I love that they include kale and not just romaine lettuce

• pastries: ham & cheese croissant is tastefully charred, and you’ll never regret ordering their seasonal danishes

site // Copain Bakery & Provisions

~ cath!!

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