PARIS – The Black Sheep Bakery is not a place for those weak of will.

Opening the door unleashes the aroma of fresh bread punctuated by an underlying hint of cinnamon and whatever might be coming out of the oven.

The front counter is loaded with homemade delights.

Closest to the cash register is a tray of cream-filled eclairs topped with a dollop of chocolate.

“Pure chocolate with heavy cream,” advises Jennifer Gentempo, bakery owner.

And they’re 25 cents apiece.

Thursday, a homemade caramel-apple-walnut pie sat lonely on the counter, crying out to be eaten.

The cinnamon rolls, which are usually gone by noon, looked mighty fine as did the orange-cream-cheese rolls. The orange-cream rolls were actually pretty.

The air is always perfumed with the smell of bread, which can be anadama, French, rosemary-garlic, cinnamon-apple raisin, oatmeal or just a round peasant boule, depending on which day you come in.

Yep, do not go into the Black Sheep Bakery next to Ranger’s Market on Main Street if you’re on a diet. Not even with a friend, not even for a second.

The bakery started in mid-June and is only open, thank goodness, on Thursday and Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This is the first bakery-type business for Gentempo, who is helped by her four children: Nettie, 15, Hannah, 13, Joseph, 10, and Jack, 6.

“Well, Jack goes upstairs and plays PlayStation,” Gentempo said.

She said there has been a large demand for her breads, and she rarely has any left over.

The last loaf of French bread left the counter at 12:07 on Thursday.

“Because of the size of the building and the labor force,” I can only bake so much, Gentempo said as she was spreading a small lake of chocolate cream something in between three layers of what she called her decadent chocolate mousse cake. Of course, there’s melted chocolate on top.

“I usually do cakes and pies to order, but I like to have a couple on hand.”

The first floor of the building, with the ovens, kitchen area, sinks, display cases, refrigerated case and coffee stand – she only sells Carrabassett – is no bigger than most living rooms.

There are no tables inside, but a couple outside.

“People would like me to be open more,” Gentempo said. “But I don’t know if my family wants me to be.”

She said she is considering adding another day or two to the schedule.

But don’t go in if you don’t like sour cream muffins, filled croissants or made-from-scratch chocolate chip cookies.

And don’t forget to try the raspberry-lemon-crumb muffins.

jsmedley@sunjournal.com

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