Le Crepe
Once upon a time there was a single gal who watched Amalie, ate her first crepe and immediately booked a solo trip to Paris at Christmastime; thereafter igniting a lifelong love affair with French shoes, culture, and yes, food.
That girl was me.
Sadly, my love of French cuisine has been somewhat unrealized since I went vegan years ago. I have yet to master the art of French cooking with plant-based ingredients and had also yet to find authentic, vegan French fare outside of ol’ Paris. With its rose adorned table, sounds of classic Parisian music playing softly overhead, a quaint space where you can tuck yourself in and waste the day away, sipping un café and naturally, enjoying delightfully prepared pastries.
If this sounds like your kind of daydream, and you aren’t keen to jump on the next Delta flight to Charles de Gaulle, consider a trip to Le Crepe. This Royal Oak, Michigan, mainstay has been serving up crepes for years (the space itself has been home to several crepe eateries over the decades). Now having perfected a vegan (and gluten-free) crepe, this foodie was headed there ‘tout de suite’. (While that might be about the extent of my French language skills, I consider myself a true vegan foodie in any language.)
Channeling the best of our Parisian memories, skinny jeans and all, we arrived for a mid-week late lunch and pleasantly realized we had the interior dining space to ourselves. This self-proclaimed loner will never complain about pristine tables and first-class attention that a quiet café can afford.
While savory crepes have our heart, sweet crepes have always had our belly. In order to appease both, we ordered one of each.
‘The Standby’, our savory crepe starter, was filled to delicious perfection with asparagus, spinach, tomatoes, avocado, and vegan mozzarella. We splurged with a side of vegan truffle zip sauce; after all, when in Paris. The crispy edged crepe stuffed with finely prepared veg, paired with the savory truffle oil made every bite magnifique. Each taste was perfectly light, satiating, and oh so enjoyable.
After every last morsel of ‘The Standby’ had disappeared, we readied ourself for ‘just a few bites’ of our mixed berry crepe selection. Well, as the saying goes, best laid plans and all. The mesmerizing blend of smashed berries, raspberry sauce, and vegan whipped cream proved too tempting for just a taste. Every last bite, drizzle, and dollop was savored.
So in true French fashion, we arrived hungry and left only clean plates. For which I have nary a regret. Well, except maybe the choice of skinny jeans. Perhaps, dear friends, when dining on such palate pleasing nibbles, one should consider choosing a roomy French linen shift dress.
If you fancy a little escape, solo or with friends, Le Crepe will welcome you. While not open for dinner, the café does occasionally feature live music and always allows wine (BYOB). All in all, Le Crepe’s vibe and decadent fare make this a quant getaway for a lazy lunch or boozy brunch.
