When I mention Colorado…what do you think of? The Rocky Mountains? Skiing? Perhaps even chocolate?
What if I said crepes? No? Well, change your way of thinking, my friends. On a recent trip to Denver, Colorado, I enjoyed one of my most favorite pastimes. Breakfast…for dinner.
It’s not an unusual concept, but seeing as more and more people skip the most important meal of the day, it seems breakfast is a dying fad…something only a few people still enjoy. I am all about breakfast food. I can eat breakfast food all day and be one happy woman. So, upon arriving in Denver, my roommate and I set out to nearby Aurora, Colorado and the Southlands Shopping Center.
Okay…so now you’re thinking…dining in a shopping center? Another one of those strip mall joints? Well…outdoor shopping center is more like it. Beautiful even. And that was where we found our destination: Le Creperie Café.
I had been craving crepes for a long while…but where I live no one offers an option that I can eat. With my gluten intolerance, it makes dining out a lot more challenging than it used to be. However, Le Creperie Café had me covered. We arrived to an empty restaurant, and during our time there had only three other people join us for dinner. But it was also a Thursday night. And with the food and service we received at this restaurant…I can only imagine it is hopping on the weekends.
We were seated immediately upon entering and the server left us with menus while he fetched our drink order. After having flown across the country, we were starving…so an appetizer sounded like a good idea. When the server returned, we went over the menu briefly, as it was our first time there, and we mentioned my food allergy. Le Creperie Café, however, does make crepes with buckwheat flour, a gluten-free option for people like me. I was in love.
Our appetizer of choice was going to be to split the Creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip…but the server immediately informed us that he believed it was made with flour, which would definitely not sit right with me. He double-checked with the chef, and sure enough…that was the case. Instead, my roommate opted for a bowl of the tomato bisque soup and I went for the Cucumber Tomato Salad…a towering plate of fresh roma tomatos, cucumbers, feta cheese, red onion, and dill…drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. It was fresh and delicious. A great way to start off the meal.
And because this was vacation, we decided to do sweet crepes over the savory ones. My roommate had never had a crepe before, so she got the very basic Nutella crepe, which, mind you, is served with homemade, fresh whipped cream on the side. I wanted a little more sweetness in my crepe, so I got the gluten-free (buckwheat flour) Crepe avec Bananes et Fraises, or a Nutella-filled crepe with bananas and strawberries, also served with the homemade whipped cream on the side.
Interesting note here…all orders are made when you order them to guarantee freshness at this restaurant. This means food takes a little bit of time to reach you…but the wait is worth it. I promise.
The crepes arrived shortly after we finished our appetizers and they looked amazing. More amazing than any crepe I had ever had. I took my first bite and remembered every reason why I loved crepes in the first place. Rich, fruity, and delicious. The Nutella complimented the fruit stuffing. And my roommate compared the buckwheat crepe with her regular one and said she couldn’t even tell the difference. Gluten-free…done oh so right! I polished it off with the whipped cream and mopped up every bit of Nutella on the plate. Nothing went to waste because it was really that amazing.
Not only did the staff at La Creperie Café know the menu, they were very knowledgeable about the ingredients. This is a place that takes pride in the food it serves, as well as concern for their customers. The fact that they offer gluten-free options is a step in the right direction and one I wish more restaurants would take since it is a growing food allergy. The food was delicious. The service was spectacular. And I will return the next time I go to Denver because they made every bite worth my while.
Breakfast for dinner. Savory or sweet. Your choice. But for a taste of something delicious…make it a crepe. And do it right…go to Le Creperie Café if you are in the Denver area. You will fall in love with breakfast all over again.
The Celiathlete 