Feeling Decadent? Just Say 'Oooh La La!'

Isabelle Blanco at Gourmandises de France, a new pastry shop at Creedmoor Crossing shopping center.

If you’ve been searching for the ultimate comfort food, imagine a flaky, buttery, chocolaty, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth delicacy created by an actual French pastry chef in our very own North Raleigh. A fantasy? At one time it would have been, but now it’s a mouth-watering reality.

In October 2001, Isabelle and Denis Blanco opened Gourmandises de France at Creedmoor Crossing shopping center on the corner of Creedmoor and Millbrook Roads. Their shop boasts such favorites as croissants, éclairs, tartlettes, meringues and imported French chocolate. If you’re in the mood for something more unusual, you can dive into Babas Au Rhum, Choux A La Crème, Coulants au Chocolat, or a dozen other tasty, tempting treats.

So, how did a French chef come to provide such delicacies to a North Raleigh crowd? “We researched the entire country, from California to the East Coast, and decided this area was the most promising for our business,” says Isabelle. Then they took a leap of faith, and moved here with their two children, without knowing anyone in the Triangle.

Apparently, their research and skills, have paid off. By closing time every day, they sell out of virtually every item. “The fact that we already have loyal customers who return to us, and let us know how good our pastries are, is the real reward for me.”

With any new business, there are unforeseen hurdles to jump. For the Blancos, one of the highest was tailoring their traditional recipes to American fl our. “American fl our and French fl our are very different. We had to experiment a lot to make our recipes work,” Isabelle shares. “We decided not to sell a pastry until we felt it was perfect.”

The Blancos are applying that same principle to other baked goods. “Many of our customers have been asking for bread. We have been working on those recipes, and will soon have several types to choose from.” To be sure, the Blancos’ pastries, like their business ideals, are never half-baked.

Gourmandises de France is open 7:00am - 6pm, Tuesday through Friday, and Saturday 8am-6pm. For a list of the day’s selections, please call 788-0379. Or better yet, stop by and see for yourself.

Click for more information about Gourmandises de France.