Another weekend has arrived. I woke up at about 9 and I remembered I needed to catch the bus to NW Transit Centre, I was only familiar with the 9.50am bus which will connect me to bus 33 and take me to Post Oak Blvd @ Westheimer with the shortest connection time.
I had wanted to go to French Gourmet Bakery, I did not take down the address or check the location before I slept. It is alright! I will walk the Westheimer stretch towards downtown and check out whichever pastry cafe I chance into. This was in the opposite direction from what I did the week before to go Kolache Factory @ Chimney Rocks. Every weekend I will visit 1 pastry cafe as part of my exploration.
Bus 82 came when I was on Westheimer, I hopped onto the bus and let it take me to wherever I fancy. I haven’t been to Central Market, so I got down and continued my walk. I love supermarket shopping – rather I love to see what are on the shelves, products that are new and unfamiliar to me, new ideas … and of course I will buy something back, I just couldn’t resist. I got a good excuse this time, my whisk disappeared in class, yes, it vanished… I bought one with white silicon that looked totally different from my classmates and I do not expect this to be mis-”taken” anytime. I fancy all things Jalapenos, and there was a Hatch fair going on – I got a bottle of Green Chile Salsa Verde and another of Jalapeno Hatch Chile Jam … I also got a couple of Jalapenos recipes for cake, choux and sorbet etc (interesting!) from the sample booth but they were not placed into my bag at checkout (sob! …it is okay, I will get them back!) I also got excuse to indulge in bakeware in order to practise what I learnt in the lab …
Back on Westheimer, again bus 82 arrived immediately. I hopped onto it again and let it take me to wherever. Passing Kirby, the road sounded familiar enough, I got off and started walking, clueless where I was. Alas! Just across the street, it was French Bakery Cafe! I began to believe when I think hard enough, things will manifest itself…
The French Gourmet Bakery did not have a gourmet feel to it, even the cake display did not look gourmet enough. But I love the spacious seating and a nice touch which include table seating by the windows with tiny curtains … the ray of sunshine gave a level of comfort for reading and my day dreaming. Of course, I day dreamt with an order of Chocolate Croissant, a coffee, and a shortbread called Thumbprint. I don’t think it is classic French, is it? The coconut shortbread has a depression in the centre piped with chocolate fudge, the depression should fit the thumb size of the French chef who owned the bakery cafe. I would like to know all the chefs behind the pastries I tried every weekend but was too hesitant to speak to one. I spent some time reading The Secret, and day dreaming my vision. I was served by Bethany, got to know she is also a Pastry student, doing an associate degree at the Art Institute.
I decided to walk to Sur La Table along Shepherd, the street at the next junction. It was hot and sunny, though the walk was enjoyable along the shady pavement. I indulged myself at Sur La Table, finding a reason for every buying decision – and there was always one! I checked and confirmed that I would get a 10% discount for showing my culinary student card, I didn’t have one. I have not gotten a replacement for the one to get my first name corrected. I left my purchase behind to collect another day with my student card, and soon I found out the reason why.
I didn’t care to check how long I waited for the bus. It was a long, hot and wet wait - I was perspiring profusely. I managed to finish another 56 pages of The Secret. Finally I got to enjoy the air-conditioned ride. I guessed it was so comfortably that I didn’t remember if I was thinking of anything in particular. I remembered seeing Kroger, Popeyes… Some time later, I noticed the bus was passing by W 18th St. Gosh! I was to have gotten off the bus at 11th St opposite Kroger and Popeyes. I took out my map and oriented myself, the bus was going toward E 20th which is opposite way to where I lived.
I got off along 20th St @ Lawrence. I made my way walking back toward W T C Jester since walking back to 11th St would take as much energy. I convinced myself that my destination is just the next red line on the map. I don’t know why, but I was smiling as I walked … I was thankful I didn’t have the bag of Sur La Table purchase with me … Restaurant Depot was in sight, and I knew I am near home. At last. In front of me a Central Bank sign read “Strong, Independent, Focused on You”, I smiled. The comforting thought was I have probably digested the Chocolate Croissant and the little Thumbprint.
