Cou Cou Rachou is a French bakery in Charlottesville that feels like a little slice of Paris tucked into a Preston Avenue shopping center. The bakery focuses on traditional French breads, pastries, and cakes made with local, organic ingredients. The name itself reflects the bakery’s welcoming spirit. In French, “coucou” is a warm greeting often shared between friends and loved ones, which fits the cozy, neighborhood feel of this bakery. Cou Cou Rachou was founded by pastry chef Rachel De Jong, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and spent time working in acclaimed kitchens before opening the bakery in Charlottesville. Her background includes experience alongside chef Patrick O’Connell at The Inn at Little Washington, bringing a fine-dining level of technique to everyday pastries. The bakery case is filled with French classics like croissants, pain au chocolat, and other laminated pastries, along with creative seasonal offerings. The attention to detail is clear in the layers of flaky dough, delicate fillings, and careful presentation. The yellow plum financier is a made with a rich almond cake base, and has a buttery, almost caramelized flavor from browned butter. The slice of yellow plum adds a bright, slightly tart contrast. The texture is what makes a financier special — crisp around the edges, soft and moist in the center, with a delicate almond flavor that pairs beautifully with the fruit. The summer berry danish combines flaky, buttery laminated pastry with bright seasonal berries. The crisp layers and rich dough are balanced by the fruit’s natural sweetness and acidity, creating a pastry that feels fresh, delicate, and perfect for a summer morning. The vegetable galette at featured seasonal vegetables centered into a rustic, flaky crust. The buttery pastry provides a rich base for the savory veggies. Have you been? Grade: A