A Crepe Escape
When Daniel Peron closed his eatery on the Miracle Mile earlier this year, his loyal followers were at a loss.
Taste of Brittany really was a taste of classic French cooking that went beyond crepes.
Thankfully, though, diners can still get a good crepe in Stockton, and if it tastes a bit familiar, it’s because the new Midtown Creperie & Cafe – also on the Miracle Mile – has hired Michael Adams from Taste of Brittany as its chef.
During a lunchtime visit to the cheery little cafe with its green and white striped awning, the sweet smells of dessert beckoned from the sidewalk, where there are a few cafe tables and chairs set up.
The wafting scent smelled of sugar and spice – definitely something calorie laden.
Inside the cozy restaurant, we were quickly seated for lunch.
We quickly learned that Midtown has a New Orleans flavor. Menu items hint at Cajun spices and have names such as “Bayou,” “Carnival” or “Seventh Ward.”
We chose the Bayou ($8.50), a savory crepe filled with turkey, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and a Dijon mustard sauce.
There is a choice of crepe base – the standard white crepe, a golden sweet style, a buckwheat crepe known as traditional gallette, chocolate, a cinnamon Hungarian style or a gluten-free version.
We went with the standard white and pronounced that crepe good to the last bite. It came with a choice of country potatoes, a side salad or fresh fruit cup.
For another dish, we sampled the Vieux Carre in a buckwheat crepe. It featured chicken, asparagus and mushrooms in a cream sauce ($8.75) along with a side of potatoes.
The potatoes were diced and fried. They were tasty and a bit crunchy. Even better with a splash of Tabasco. The Vieux Carre looked promising. But the chopped chicken breast seemed reheated. It was a bit cold in spots. The asparagus appeared to have been fresh at one point, but it was a tad mushy with an overpowering taste that comes from being overcooked. The mushroom sauce was delicious.
A Cajun shrimp salad ($9.95) featured sautéed Cajun seasoned shrimp, orange segments and avocado served over a mixed green salad with a cilantro lime vinaigrette. It is always a plus when a restaurant serves up a green salad that actually has greens in it instead of tired, white iceberg. This was certainly the case.
Our soda glasses were constantly refilled – the cafe doesn’t serve alcohol – and our server was prompt and efficient.
It appeared to be a good place to stop in for breakfast, a quick lunch or dessert and coffee.
That heavenly smell that drew us in must have come from the breakfast or dessert menu, and we hope to return to sample both.
The beignets on the breakfast menu sound heavenly. At $4, the menu touts three of the New Orleans-style doughnuts dusted with confectioners’ sugar and accompanied by dipping sauce. There are also Belgian waffles on the menu, omelets and – of course – a whole menu of filled dessert crepes.
~Published In The August 12, 2010 Edition Of The Stockton Record~
