text: For years I longed for a truly fine bakery in UrbanaChampaign and then Jack Kostrub opened Mirabelle Fine Pastry The bakery produces exceptional loaves and pastries both savory and sweet We are special fans of the focaccia from the traditional flat loaves topped with sea salt and rosemary or red onions and tomatoes to the thick wedges piled with feta cheese and roasted veg nnThe almond horn tipped with chocolate I purchased yesterday is an example of the quality of the bakerys sweets The outside had a slight crunch of roasted almond slices while the inside was dense moist and chewy and tasted of the most delicate amaretto The chocolate was darkly sweet perfectly complementing the almond flavor Heavenly nnPlus Mirabelle is located in Urbanas gallery district with the wonderful Heartland Gallery just down the block among other treasures If you would like lunch too you can hop right across the street to La Gourmandise Or you can get takeaway at Mirabelle which includes savory stuffed croissants and simple delicious baguette and loaf bread sandwichesnnOn Fridays at lunchtime the bakery recently started a piled high roast beef sandwich tradition steeped in au jus I have not had one yet but a local business owner sends in his folks every week to pick up a batch they swear by themnnMy only complaints popular items run out early flies flies flies in the bakery and cases especially in the summer when the door is propped somewhat surly and negligent counter service