The traditional cafes in the cours Mirabeau rarely serve patisseries with their morning drinks… and I never have the nerve to produce one out of a bag, which is what you can do in so many French villages. So I am often on the lookout for somewhere to get coffee and cake.
It’s getting easier (see posts on Mana Espresso and Columbus Café)…and this week I tried out Maison Cangina which is at right angles at the top of the cours where rue Marechal Joffre starts.
But was the fooding exciting?The Cangina family have been making sweets and then pastries in Aix for decades and so it’s unsurprising with such a heritage that the quality of the cakes is superb. Plus it’s great that they do two sizes of each so you can have a small 
one for the taste, without embarking on a huge number of calories. I had a lovely cassis and lemon éclair which is a combination new to me, and my partner-in-crime’s chocolate and nuts confection was delicious.
I read recently that Aix has a student population of 40,000 and this café, like many others, is reaching out to this clientele with a menu of lunchtime salad and sandwich-based formules.
I don’t think ‘exciting’ is the adjective that would be the first to spring to mind. Delicious patisserie, yes, and customer-friendly light lunches. What it does provide is a ‘salon de thé’ type experience where you can meet a friend to enjoy a casual morning coffee and cake. And that’s a plus!
Regarding bringing your own little “sachet” with a pastry from somewhere else, I understand that the Grillon on the Cours Mirabeau allows pastries from Patisserie Bechard. The two families that run these long standing establishments have a close relationship. In fact, the Grillon is proud to be the only cafe supplied by Bechard for morning pastries. So, if you are happy to have a simple croissant, you can order it with your coffee at the Grillon; otherwise they do permit a Kugelhopf or other such Bechard treat brought in on your own fruition.
Brilliant…thanks for letting everyone know!
I had a very unpleasant experience with the owner of this place. I ordered a birthday cake Framboise Royal for my child for 10 people. I kindly asked for a decoration, a little figure of princess. As all previous times I was sure that I will be charged per portion per person 3,90 Euros so total 39 Euros.
While placing an order I was NOT informed that I will have to pay extra for a decoration.
My husband went to pick up a cake. He was charged only 15 Euros. As we ordered couple of times cakes there and sometimes we pay some part in advance – he assumed that this is what has happened that I paid something in advance.
Few days later I received a call from an employee of the patisserie to align a bill. Of course I apologised for misunderstanding and I confirmed that certainly we will pay back. But instead of the reminder of 24 E she asked me for 39 Euros claiming that we must pay for a decoration.I didn’t agree because no one warned me while I was ordering this cake.
My husband went there yesterday to pay a difference of 24 E. The owner insisted that he must pay extra for decoration. She offended him in all possible ways, shouting that he is dishonest. But it was her, who lied in a cheeky way that we were aware about extra charge and that we paid this in previous years which is totally not true. When he told her that it is not fair because she should tell us in advance and that 54 Euros she demanded for a child cake is a lot – she abused him and accused him of being poor!!
Moreover she was threatening him with the Police and was enough lucky to spot them just outside on the street. Of course Police arrived as she was hysterically shouting from a shop. My husband knowing French Police preferred to give her these extra money rather to spend three hours with Police explaining an issue.
I know people would not be interested in this private matter as what is the most important in review of the place is quality of the products. Franky speaking a cake which we ordered was not good as it was too sweet, it was covered with a layer of thick sugar. However a decoration was very impressive – a head of Elsa from Frozen. But unfortunately the cake was not consumed by over 20 guests this must mean – it wasn’t good! (I was afraid that cake for 10 wouldn’t be enough for 20!)
It seems that a quality of cakes drastically came down, they face some problems because the way the owner was acting deprived of good manners and desperately fighting for 15 Euros – doesn’t seem good. Not very clever. She got her money but she lost a regular client or rather few of them because as I said we had leftover of this cake in our fridge after birthday party!
I’m sorry to read that you have had such a stressful time.