SAUCE MAGAZINE
Posted On: 03/01/2006
There’s no question that downtown has been a buzzing scene for quite some time now, and Washington Avenue is at the center of it all with its hot nightlife and hip dining spots. Given the neighborhood’s trendsetting status, it should come as no surprise that many of its shops offer something a bit out of the ordinary. Imagine, for example, having your crêpes and ink cartridges, too. You can, at least on weekends, when Crêpes in the City sets up shop inside Washington Avenue Post, a place that offers cool stationery, soy candles and office supplies.
Taking its name from old postal boxes that run along one side of the room, Washington Avenue Post has a hip, urban feel. Concrete floors, exposed ceilings and walls showcasing original art create a unique space for the dozen tables and mini-market.
During the week Washington Avenue Post serves coffee, espresso and specialty drinks as well as pastries and occasional soups. But Saturdays and Sundays it features savory and sweet crêpes – eight of each ranging from $5 to $7 – and a few specials. Head up to the counter to place your crêpe order with one of the friendly servers, relax with a cup of coffee or browse the eclectic items and chill out to the ambient music.
Mary Gonzalez (a local artist and art teacher) and her husband, José, set up their cooking station in the midst of the tables so you can watch them work their magic. Gonzalez learned to make crêpes in her native Peru; they’re light and thin and don’t overwhelm the fresh ingredients.
The Bon Jour is like the French version of a breakfast burrito. Gonzalez ladles out crêpe batter and waits for it to set up, then cracks a couple eggs on top and gives them a stir to scramble them, adding ham, turkey or bacon and topping that with mozzarella or Cheddar. For something a bit zippier, try the Zamba: Chicken, onion, tomato, jalapeño and spinach are folded into a crêpe with Cheddar cheese, sour cream and a smooth, spicy sauce. The flavors of fresh basil, spinach and olive oil brighten the Pesto crêpe, with brie, tomato and ham (or chicken). The Capri is a tasty mix of mushroom, red pepper, spinach and mozzarella drizzled with olive oil.
Even if you think you’re full, go ahead and order a dessert crêpe. The Chocolate-Banana is a perfect little package filled with sliced banana and rich Nutella, drenched with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. The Crêpe de Artiste is a decadent combination of fresh strawberries and peaches, walnuts and coconut with manjar blanco (similar to dulce de leche). It’s folded into a wedge, drizzled with strawberry and caramel syrup, then dusted with powdered sugar and topped with whipped cream.
Additional dessert selections include strawberry combined with crème fraîche or chocolate; the Canela, apple with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar; or the Tropical, with mango and banana, coconut, maple syrup and chocolate sauce.
Coffee, espresso drinks and house specialty drinks are served in big, sturdy burgundy mugs. Washington Avenue Post has some fun flavor combinations that are practically dessert in themselves. Try the Raspberry Truffle (espresso with chocolate, raspberry and steamed milk), Snickers Latte (espresso with chocolate, caramel, hazelnut and steamed milk) or Chocolate Monkey (espresso with chocolate, banana and steamed milk).
Where else can you find shops that let you enjoy tasty crêpes, buy cards and candles, make copies and pick up a few groceries all in the same place? Gonzalez said she hopes to eventually move to a larger space, but she values the atmosphere along that stretch of Washington Avenue so much that she doesn’t want to move far.
