My name is Darren d'Auteuil, and I truly believe our best days are ahead of us. It's taken me over 50 years to finally get in touch with a significant part of my heritage; the provincial family bakers and cooks of Northern Maine. They were all French back then, up and down the quiet roads of Eagle Lake, and Presque Isle, living off the land. They used simple, fresh ingredients and created humble masterpieces like fiddleheads, ployes, and criton. They had wild blueberries and strawberries from the bush in the summer.
My favorite uncle, Joe Soucy, owned a bakery and catering business in Bangor, established in 1945 and still run by my cousin, Brett. I loved my Uncle Joe's spirit, and his stories, and I especially loved watching him work with his hands. I'm not sure I ever saw him not smiling, though I'm sure he was human. My point is that I think I know why now. The man was happy in the kitchen working with food, and it brought him true bliss to watch others experience joy at the table, sharing a meal. If there is an ode to my history, this is it. I have found nothing more grounding than working with naturally cultured dough. Is it daft to market items that spend about 18 hours with me before they hit the oven? Probably, but it brings me unimaginable joy to create, and share it with others.
I finally feel at home, after all these years....