I biked to a special French cafe in Princeton that hires those with disabilities

Have you discovered Blue Bears in the Princeton Shopping Center?

It’s a very French cafe, down to the croissants made from scratch. The big difference, though, is that part of the staff is adults with intellectual or physical disabilities. They bake, they serve, they clear tables.

It’s not a gimmick, either. The rotating entrees on the a la carte menu are really good. So is the dense chocolate torte that I had a while back.

So I decided it was time to go again. What chocolate treat would I find this time?

Not the torte, unfortunately. I debated over that millionaire slice pictured at the top, but I ended up choosing a slice of the orange polenta cake instead. So moist. Full of flavor. Not crazy sweet. But it still felt substantial.

Biking there is pretty easy — well, except for crossing U.S. 1. Left to its own devices, Ride With GPS would have taken me via Alexander Road. But I don’t like the wide two lanes in each direction with fast-moving traffic. I prefer the scary-looking Washington Road circle because traffic stops for the light and therefore moves pretty slowly. Just easier to be seen.

I went by the edge of the Princeton University campus, then quiet residential roads rather than Ride With GPS’s choice of busy Harrison Street. I took the same route back, appreciating the small homes that sadly will one day be gtear-downs as well as some of a new crop of modern, angular homes in town that make me think of the painter Mondrian. I’ll just say the climb as I headed back toward Nassau Street was more noticeable — or maybe I’m just used to the one on Faculty Road.

Here’s my route, starting at the Princeton Junction train station. Just over 9 miles round-trip.