Alessia

WOW! I expected to be impressed by the baked goods and pretty cakes, but I wasn’t prepared to be blown away by the gorgeous, elegant interior design of this new bakery. I am smitten.

Dining at Alessia is a treat for the senses. I met my good friend Debbie, who was already seated at a lovely tufted banquette, and we took a few minutes to silently revel in the beauty of the space. We noticed the pink bouquet of flowers on our table as well as the extravagant blooms in vases around the cafe. We took in the subtle, soothing color scheme: light pink, white, and a subdued gold. And then we considered the menu.

We ended up ordering things to share: a simple omelette, a toasted baguette, and a twist on one of my favorites, a hazelnut swirled pastry, similar to the classic pain aux raisins. The omelette was perfect: soft and slightly underdone inside, with melty gruyere cheese and a sprinkling of fresh chives. The pastry was heavenly, lightly spiced with cinnamon, soft in the center, and crispy on the rounded, flakey edges. The baguette was a bit disappointing, but I am willing to try it again, perhaps a whole one, not toasted. 

My cafe au lait, one of my favorite coffee drinks that is not always on offer, was excellent. The coffee was rich and smooth, the milk, creamy and hot. Debbie told me her cappuccino was also on point. 

Before leaving, we gazed at the splendid array of croissants, breakfast rolls, and fancy desserts, from a delectable looking lemon tart, to a rich chocolate mousse cake. There are also uniquely flavored chocolate bars, meringues, and jams on display for sale. I think the reason I find Alessia so alluring is that it sparks a particular memory. I spent a week in Paris with my cousin and a good friend a few years ago, and a highlight of our trip was lunch at Angelina. While Alessia is not as old or as grand, dining there feels like a special treat. I plan to take my mom to Alessia to celebrate her 86th birthday, knowing that its elegant ambiance and fine pastries will delight her.