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Treats Tout Sweet

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By LAURA KINSLER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2007

NEW TAMPA - Anoushka Marty, a French Canadian who spent years in Paris, has been craving a real baguette since she moved to Zephyrhills. Her eyes lit up when she stepped into the new Cafe Parisien.

'Someone who knows a good baguette knows a good baguette,' she said as she bit into a slice of the crusty loaf.

The verdict? Très bien.

'I'm so excited,' she said. 'This is really good, and it's still warm. I have a brie at home in my refrigerator, so life is good.'

Owner Mo Adi knows all about the love for French bread and pastries. His Hunter's Green family keeps an apartment on the Champs Elysees, where it can start the day with flaky croissants and end it with delicate pastries or sweet crepes.

Now, the family is bringing its passion for French food to New Tampa. The Adis opened Cafe Parisien this month at 10861 Cross Creek Blvd.

Adi and his father took pains to make the cafe as close to authentic as possible by importing European restaurant equipment. They also recruited executive chef Pavel Hasenohrl, who trained in Europe, to run the restaurant. He starts work every day at 3 a.m. to have a store full of fresh, hot breads by the 6 a.m. opening.

'We're going to use all organic ingredients,' Adi said. 'We'll sell imported coffees and fresh-squeezed juices - nothing from concentrate.'

One case is filled with fruit tarts, napoleons, eclairs, crème puffs and cakes. Another holds hundreds of chocolate bonbons. Cookies and croissants fill the shelves of a third case. The fourth will hold French cheeses and other specialty imported products.

Gelato is made in-house. The menu also includes a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and crepes.

Hasenohrl, a native Czech, graduated from college with a degree in psychology before attending culinary school in Prague. Cooking has always been his first love; he calls it a God-given talent.

'For me, the best bonus is a happy customer,' he said. 'It's better than money.'

Hasenohrl will share some of his knowledge by offering baking classes at the cafe on Saturdays. The classes will cost $10 per hour.

'I'm going to show them my tricks,' he said. 'I'll teach them how to make bread and bake a cake, then they'll get to take it home.'

The empty storefront underwent a complete transformation to create an inviting atmosphere. The Adis eliminated two front parking spaces to create a large patio for outdoor dining. They wanted the cafe to be classy and comfortable.

'We've been wanting to do something like this for a long time,' Adi said. 'We drew inspiration from lots of different cafes we've been to in the city and the country.'

Prospective customers have been waiting for the cafe to open since Adi put the sign up in late May.

Debbie Bernardine lives across the street in Heritage Isles. She was one of a steady flow of customers who walked in Tuesday morning and left with a box of pastries and a ciabatta loaf to go.

'I'm going to have to control myself,' she said. 'Just to have good bread available so close by is going to be great.'

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Cafe Parisien
WHERE: 10861 Cross Creek Blvd.

WHEN: Open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

INFORMATION: Call (813) 986-2028 or visit www.cafeparisien-tampa.com.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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