petit dejeuner at la boîte
La Boîte's chocolate croissant and Saint Germain-flavored macarons.
I was eight when my parents decided to take me along on yearly pilgrimages to Western Europe. The first trip was two weeks long (in retrospect, my god were they brave) – one week in London, the other in Paris.
I only really remember a few things about that first trip to The City of Lights:
- The abundance of dog poop, and my mom slipping on a pile of it on the sidewalk;
- The burning haze of cigarette smoke;
- The funny carpet at the entrance to our hotel; and
- Pain au chocolat for breakfast every morning.
Paris can be a scary place for an American kid hooked on Burger King and Sunkist, but then that basket of freshly-baked pastries arrived at our breakfast table. I was eight, but I knew then the French were on to something.
Chocolate croissants seem straightforward enough, but they’re deceptively difficult to nail. The delicate ratio of croissant to chocolate hangs in the balance. I knew La Boîte – say it with me now: “la bwaht” – was legit before ever tasting anything.
How? Co-Partner Victoria Davies’ lovely, sing-songy voice asking which “kwAHsahn” I wanted (they have almond croissants, as well). Serious people eat “kwAHsahn,” not “cruh-sAWnts.” Mais oui!
However you pronounce it, pair your croissant with a cup of La Boîte’s piping hot French press coffee and you’ve got yourself a match made in breakfasty dessert heaven.
While I’m here, I’d also like to give a shout out to the trailer’s otherworldly Saint Germain-flavored macarons. I stood there, macaron in-hand, moaning in my kitchen with my eyes closed at 10 in the morning. Thank god I decided to take them to go.
La Boîte Cafe, 1700 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin. Open 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekends. 512.377.6198. Follow them on Twitter for more information on daily offerings.
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