Paris Connection

Owner and French-trained pastry chef Britt-Marie Culey has been wowing us with her sweet delights crafted from layers of genoise, almond paste, vanilla cream, pâte sucrée and chocolate ganache since she and her husband Shane moved to Cleveland in 2008. Her dessert creations were only available at the Shaker Square Farmers' Market, select area restaurants and by special order. But that is about to change.

Photo Courtesy of Stephen Cutri 

Coquette Patisserie, a pastry shop and cocktail lounge located on Euclid Avenue across from The Art Institute, is set to open next week, perhaps even as soon as this Saturday. Check the bakery's Facebook page for the most up-to-the-minute info on when they're ready for company.

I got a preview of this unique shop at an event celebrating the storefront's debut. The big-windowed space is charming — a quirky combination of salvage chic, artistic flair and a classy crystal chandelier. There's a small bar, communal table and two-tops opposite glass cases where Culey's cakes and tarts will be on display. The menu also includes some savory bites: chicken liver mousse eclairs; egg salad on a house made brioche with shrimp or cured salmon and herbed cream cheese; and crepes, oysters, and cheese and charcuterie plates. The shop ups its sophistication factor with craft beers on tap; bottles of red, white and sparkling wines; and an array of spirits, among them cognac, absinthe and Armagnac. Just the thought of sipping champagne while forking up bites of opera cake gives me a pleasurable little rush.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Cutri

At that pre-opening party, I asked Culey if she was excited. "That's not quite the word I'd use," she replied. "We've waited a long time for this. We spent five years looking for just the right place. And we've been working so hard to get it ready. It's almost surreal now that it's really happening.  What I feel is exhausted. And happy, really happy." I took a nibble of an orange truffle macaron and thought, me too! Good luck to her, and good news for us.