Croissant D'Or

Liz and I were walking to the Southern Food and Beverage Museum one morning, and we passed a little patisserie called Croissant D'Or. I asked Liz what she thought of the cafe, and she said that it was quite good. So the next day I ventured there for lunch. I liked the open exterior of the cafe with its wide cream walls and expansive bakery case (Yum!) I read online that the almond croissants were "the best," so I decided to try one. I also ordered a small quiche lorraine tart and a mocha (my favorite cafe drink). The quiche was served warm and was delicious. The crust of the quiche was thick and flaky (parfait!) The croissant, true to its review, was fantastic: an almond paste had been incorporated into the croissant (undetectable from the outside). The subtleness of the almond flavor was truly a work of art. The mocha, unfortunately was subpar--a bit watery, and lacked a strong espresso flavor. Besides, the mocha I had a wonderful experience out in the courtyard. There was a lively bunch of New Orleanians and tourists at the cafe. A vibrantly dressed street performer waltz into the courtyard around 12:30. She was dressed head to tow in Hawaiian silk flowers. She sported an umbrella that was similarly garnished. She picked up a conversation with the Japanese-born wife of an American army vet who was sitting at a nearby table. The street performer had taught in Japan for several years, and was excited to share her experiences with the native of Japan. I love these par chance meetings that bring two unexpected persons together--how wonderful! I will be returning to Croissant D'Or soon and will certainly be ordering another almond croissant!