I’m not gonna lie. The photo above of the Peach Vanilla crepe I ate yesterday at Baguette et Chocolat, a month old French Patisserie (bakery) and restaurant in the Hill Country, is distracting me so much, I am having trouble finding the words to describe its decadence. Perhaps the photo says it all, but I should at least do it justice by telling you about how the crepe batter came out thin and crispy, yet soft, and the light flavor of the peaches that filled the inside with hints of vanilla and dusted with powdered sugar created a beautiful harmony. Just as melodic, if not more, were the flavors of the perfectly crafted Opera dessert that neighbor Brian uninhibitedly ordered and sunk his fork into which was made up of about 15 perfectly aligned layers of cake and creme and chocolate, adorned with a gold leaf.
Everything from the Quiche Florentine (with spinach), to the Niciose Salad and the baguette that came with it was perfectly crafted and made our group feel like we took a brief trip to France during our morning meal.
The restaurant itself is modest, with about twelve tables, yet boasts a bakery case, a menu that is difficult to choose from since everything looked delicious, and friendly service. I met Analise (I hope I spelled this correctly!), the owner and wife of Chi-Minh, the French baker himself, who was so welcoming and I could tell they are passionate about the fresh, delicious eats they are serving up unexpectedly in the Hill Country. She even made a point to delay the sweet crepes we ordered since she insisted they were best eaten warm right off of the griddle. As a result, I was served the crepe immediately after I finished the last bite of salad. The warm crepe was just perfection.
If you’re out in the Hill Country, on the way to the lake, or just feel like taking a leisurely drive to France, make a stop at Baguette et Chocolat, about 5 minutes from the Hill Country Galleria, located off of Bee Caves when you head West on Highway 71. Bon Apetit!
8 thoughts on “A Perfect Petit Dejeuner”
Leslie June 14, 2010 at 9:35 am
Sounds like my kind of place…can’t wait to try it when we come to visit! This is going on our “must go to” list.
Thanks Rebecca!
Jodi June 15, 2010 at 2:32 am
This sounds phenomenal and I’m adding it to my “must try” list! Thank you for sharing, Rebecca!
Rebecca June 15, 2010 at 7:16 am
I’m so glad I sold you on Baguette et Chocolat! I think it was the picture of the crepe that did it 😉 Can’t wait to go back and take you, Mom.
Jodi, you will love it!
lisaiscooking June 15, 2010 at 7:28 am
Sounds amazing! Your review makes me want to jump into my car. I’ll have to check it out soon.
TheRebecca June 17, 2010 at 11:47 am
Thanks, Lisa! Let me know what you think during your first visit!
Brian Saghy June 17, 2010 at 11:59 am
We also discovered, thanks to the Opera, that I can eat gold. Gxi min ne doloras.
The only downside to this place is that they have too many delicious looking things to try and that there is not enough space in your stomach or money in the wallet to do so at once. To better aid this bold try-everything endeavor, I suggest they create a second location in my kitchen to make things more convenient.
Not convinced June 20, 2010 at 7:48 pm
I wish I could be as enthusiastic about my stop. I ordered a simple ham and cheese croissant at a hefty price of over $4. And there was only one other person there before me. What I received was burnt croissant; dried out and cold ham when supposedly they were warming it up. Not only was it uneatable but I had to wait forever to receive it.
TheRebecca June 20, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I’m sorry to hear of your sub-par experience at Baguette et Chocolat! If you are willing to give it another shot, I would say the baked goods/sweets and sweet crepes are most likely their specialty. As far as price goes, usually I am willing to spend a little bit extra given that all of their baked goods are made fresh daily, and for the local nature of the business. I hope it was just an off day!