San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Chill at a French bakery
Mademoiselle Colette brings a Parisian air to Redwood City’s Broadway with its clean white look and oldworld facade. Aesthetic motifs aside, the pastry case shows off owner Debora Ferrand’s knack for French baked goods. A graduate of a globally recognized pastry school in France, Ferrand opened her first bakery in Menlo Park in 2015, then expanded to Palo Alto and, most recently, Redwood City. Her treats include patisserie specialties like shiny eclairs and tarts filled with fresh raspberry or lemon cream. The croissants stand out with their browned crispy exterior and many swirling interior layers of sweet dough that feel light and airy. Take your pick among traditional, almond or chocolate croissants, and head outside to the front patio to watch folks start their day. If you’re looking for something more substantial,
Mademoiselle Colette offers a classic croque madame with rich, sweet-salty Comté cheese and warm ham on puffy bread topped with a fried egg. The brunch menu includes a crab Benedict topped with a runny egg, which comes with a side salad of tomato and herbs that presents a fresh contrast to the sweet crab meat and rich egg yolk. Coffee is available with drip and espresso offerings that include a sweet, velvety cortado that pairs perfectly with croissants.
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. 2401 Broadway, Redwood City. mademoisellecolette.com
Or try one of these options:
Chuck’s Donuts: Chuck’s has all of the quintessential old-school doughnut shop trappings: glazed doughnuts in pink cardboard boxes, a cash-only policy and 24-7 hours for midnight snackers. For decades, it has drawn legions of early-morning doughnut fans and teens hanging out late at night. A lot hasn’t changed here — the classic cruller is still excellent and delicate — though more modern additions, like a supremely tender ube doughnut, deliver, too. Don’t miss the blueberry fritter, a massive, chewy creation with delightful pops of tart fruit. Open 24-7. 801 Woodside Road, Redwood City. 650-368-0161
Coffeebar: This Tahoeborn specialty coffee shop chose a historic building in downtown Redwood City for its second Peninsula location in 2019. The owners kept the old-school glass-tiled signage from the drugstore and candy shop that once occupied the space, and the original exposed brick walls, but it’s otherwise been transformed into a hip, modern cafe. Grab a latte made with Coffeebar’s own beans and a housemade pastry (or a glass of wine when the cafe becomes an Italian bar in the evenings). With WiFi and lots of customers with laptops, it’s also a comfortable place to get work done if needed. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 2020 Broadway, Redwood City. coffeebar.com