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In your dreams, you might easily imagine spending a night in the swanky Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris. In your fantasy you’d brush elbows with royalty, celebrities and politicians as you strolled the luxe halls. From its multi-Michelin starred celebrity chef, Alain Ducasse, to its glamorous location (Monsieur Dior famously threw open the doors to his couture haven beside the hotel on avenue Montaigne in 1947) Hôtel Plaza Athénée is a destination in and of itself. The happy ending to your sweetest of dreams might be indulging in one of the hotel’s highly revered decadent desserts the taste of which would dance delicately upon your tastebuds like the wisp of a perfectly puffy cloud straight out of heaven.

If you fear footing the bill for one of Hôtel Plaza Athénée’s luxurious rooms might give you nightmares, Mademoiselle Colette in Menlo Park, California offers a taste of Parisian glamour for a fraction of the price with no jet lag required.

Debora Ferrand is the stunningly gorgeous and impeccably stylish owner and founder of Mademoiselle Colette. Ferrand crossed paths with Mademoiselle Colette’s current pastry chef, Orphée Fouano back when Fouano was working beside the world champion of pastry, Chef Christophe Michalak, at Hôtel Plaza Athénée.

Mademoiselle Colette’s menu consists of a pleasant mix of brunch items and salads like the Colette Parisian Salad which features ham, gruyere, tomato, asparagus and artichoke.

The patisserie also whips up sandwiches and an assortment of tartine like the Croque Madame shown below.

Traditional Francophile fan favorites like croissants, macaroons and éclairs are often seen posing in the display case.

…but it’s the stunning pastries at Mademoiselle Colette that steal the show.

In addition to Mademoiselle Colette, here’s a list of other neat little local spots we love across the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.

Masterful wonders of art like Fouano’s The Lemon always make me swoon.

The Lemon consists of lemon cream and confit with Italian meringue and caviar limes.

Mademoiselle Colette’s passionfruit wonders might make you want dessert before brunch.

If you’re in a hurry, you can always snag a confection to go, but immediately devouring Mademoiselle Colette’s sweet treats always tastes best.

The line is often long at Mademoiselle Colette, but it moves quickly and don’t be concerned if all the tables in the front room near the register are already taken. Truth be told, the best spots in the house are the two tables for two in the hallway where you can watch the team craft their creations in the kitchen or on a sunny day its tough to beat the wooden outdoor seating area on the back patio.

Mademoiselle Colette
816 Santa Cruz Avenue
Menlo Park, California, 94025 United States of America
Tuesday Through Saturday 8:00am to 4:00pm
Sunday 8:00am to 2:00pm
650-644-8469