twice baked and extra yummy (le rêve, queen anne)

Holiday shopping in Queen Anne wouldn't be complete without a stop into one my favorite French bakeries, Le Rêve Bakery & Café. Located next to Stuhlbergs (another one of my favorite places on the hill) near the corner of Queen Anne Avenue and West Blaine, Le Rêve offers a wonderful selection of freshly baked sweets and a mix of savory options (think: sandwiches on baguettes and croissants, soups, salads, and pizzas) for breakfast and lunch. This charming café also has a great selection of drinks including coffees (Olympia Coffee Roasting Company), teas (Harney & Sons), wine, and beer, so it's the kind of place you can visit any time of day and find something to enjoy.

Le Rêve Bakery and Café: 1805 Queen Anne Ave N.

On this particular visit, I skipped the pretense of "eating lunch" and went straight for the twice baked pain au chocolat croissant. Now, this isn't the type of thing a socially conscious lady typically orders in front of her friends when meeting up for lunch. Instead, she probably orders a nice salad or baguette sandwich (also delicious) while secretly coveting the decadent pastries on the other side of the glass. I once ran into a colleague here who was sitting alone at a table. Upon seeing me, she gave me a sheepish look and admitted to the guilty pleasure of an occasional twice baked chocolate croissant after her morning walk. It seemed she was caught in the act, and I completely understood. But today I was dining alone with no familiar faces in sight, and I was free to indulge without any social guilt. I approached the counter and without any hesitation declared, "One twice baked pain au chocolat croissant for here, please." (And an Earl Grey tea.)

Selection of freshly baked pastries.

Now, you may be wondering: What does it mean for a croissant to be twice baked? And why is it so delicious? First of all, have you ever had anything twice baked that wasn't delicious? Probably the most common twice baked food is a potato, and twice baked potatoes are amazing. A twice baked croissant is similar, but even better. At Le Rêve, they begin with their basic pain au chocolat croissant, cut it in half, and add almond paste to the filling. Then the croissant is put back together and loaded with almond slivers and baked again. Once it's done, it's topped with confectioners' sugar and a piece of chocolate to create a wonderfully flaky and flavorful croissant. It sounds over the top, and it is. The twice baked pain au chocolat croissant is a luxurious treat that one should probably only indulge in on special occasions.. like after a busy morning of Christmas shopping.

Twice baked pain au chocolat croissant.

If you don't want to miss out on this piece of heaven the next time you're out with friends for lunch in Queen Anne, forget your social consciousness and order the croissant in front of everyone you know. Tell them the high heeled foodie made you do it! But if you must order something more lunch-like, Le Rêve's savory options are sure to please. Two of my favorite sandwiches are the Croque Monsieur (ham, gruyère, and dijon served on a crusty baguette) and the BLT & G (BLT with goat cheese!). The mini pizzas are scrumptious, and I've never had a soup that I didn't enjoy (soup changes daily). I'm guessing the salads are equally delicious, too, but I wouldn't know since I'm usually too busy eating something less healthy :)

hhf says: Le Rêve offers a wonderful selection of food and drink for any time of day (except on Tuesdays or after 4pm, when they're closed). It's perfect for gathering with friends over lunch or mid-afternoon coffee / tea, and just right for a private afternoon of indulging in your favorite French pastry.


Update: Beginning March 1, 2012, Le Rêve will be open 7am-6pm daily!

Shoe preview: Prada mid-shaft boot.

No hhf shoe photo today since I was alone, but here's a preview of shoes to come (they're in the mail.. yippee!): Prada mid-shaft boot in brown goatskin with contrast stitching. I'm already in love. I hope they don't let me down!