Another way-too-caffeinated day, and I took my bestie down with me
As we desperately drizzle maple syrup into anything we can to make it taste like Autumn in South Louisiana, we’re still avoiding the heat at the peak of the day. Coffees are still iced, unless it’s early morning or evening time, and patio sitting is only for when the sun has tucked itself away. There’s no season that inspires me to write more this one, no matter the temperature. I’m happy to be using this space again to share visits to local coffee shops.
My coffee adventures have followed me everywhere I go, and it isn’t often that a local shop has me just as excited as bigger or more touristy cities in the U.S. (e.g. Park City, Utah or Sacramento, California to name a couple).
Surprisingly, Gretna has a few of the best coffee shops I’ve been to down here. I can’t speak for the city of New Orleans, as we don’t venture out there too often. I know there are some pretty cool ones, though, and I’m looking forward to taking another day trip to some new ones that have popped up since the pandemic!
My best friend from another state drove in to visit right before Christmas last year, and I asked her (pressured her?) to join me on my coffee-themed day around this historic city. Sorry Miranda! (But I’m not because we had a great day!)
Let’s go explore these Westbank winners!
Cherry Coffee Roasters
Our first stop might have been my favorite of the day. Cherry Coffee Roasters has two locations, so there is another café over in New Orleans. Its Gretna location is so very charming.
As we walked in, we stepped into a large sunroom, decorated with comfortable furniture in pastel tones, antique cabinetry, and warm, wooden floors. If I could have sat there that day to work for hours, I would have felt at home. The ceiling even had the most beautiful wood panelling. I loved browsing the locally made jewelry and bags of roasty-toasty beans while we waited.
Plants basked in the sunshine all around, and the barista was so friendly and sweet, ensuring we ordered exactly what we wanted. Indie rock songs wafted through the café, bringing the vibes way down. We felt so chill. So relaxed.
Because we wanted to each try something different, we ordered a Peppermint Mocha and a Lavender Latte, swapping sips to see which one we preferred.
Here are our notes:
- Peppermint Mocha + Oat Milk:
- Nutty! And great mint-chocolate scent
- Appropriately light on the peppermint flavor, nice frostiness without overpowering
- Dark chocolate, rich and decadent without being overly sweet
- 4/5
- Lavender Latte + Whole Milk:
- Floral aroma was nice
- Not a strong lavender taste; could have used more
- Excellent espresso flavor, quite smooth
- 2/5
Le café éblouir
I’d never heard of this sweet little café until I did some research on coffee shops, specifically on the Westbank. Le café éblouir is owned by a pastry chef who wanted to bring fine pastries and cakes directly to the community. With an East Asian flair, there is a variety of snacks, both savory and sweet, bubble teas, coffee drinks, and more available on their menu. They even take custom orders for professional cakes! Check out their website for their menu, as well as photos of some of their beautiful creations in the past.
I hadn’t eaten any food yet, and you know what coffee does to you on an empty stomach… I was jittery as a cricket in July. The mini croissants piled with chicken salad were the perfect snack portions for each of us to share. The croissants were warmed and toasty, buttery and crisp. The chicken salad was cool with refreshing bits of celery and grapes.
It definitely gave off boba tea shop vibes! Bright and happy, with some cozy touches. Pretty plants adorned the walls, and they had cute Christmas decor on the pastry case and around the tables. Their menu, as I mentioned before, has so many options. They even had shaved ice! I’ll have to go back before it gets too chilly outside. The café is tucked away inside a strip mall, and I probably wouldn’t have seen it if I wasn’t looking for it. It’s truly worth the trip! Hidden coffee shops are usually treasures.
Our notes on the coffees:
- Earl Grey Latte + Oat Milk: (okay, I know this isn’t a coffee, but…palette fatigue!)
- Strong bergamot flavor, which I adored
- Refreshingly simple and not trying too hard; just what it needed to be
- Not crazy about the to-go cups
- 3/5
- Butterscotch Latte + Whole Milk:
- Incredible butterscotch flavor! Not sure how they make it, but it was spot on
- VERY sweet; could have asked for 1/2 sweet and it still would have been plenty sweet
- 3/5
Amoré Bakery and Café
If you’ve followed me on Instagram for a while, you’ve seen plenty of photos from Amoré Bakery and Café! This is an Italian bakery, with gelato, freshly-filled cannoli (IYKYK), espresso, and plenty of daily pastries.
The pastry chef here always has the more eclectic array of sweets, and they are all done professionally and vibrantly. Everything…I mean everything is delicious!
The style of the building is so beautiful. When you walk in, you are in a foyer that is lit by a chandelier, which is always seasonally decorated. The decor is especially nice around Halloween and Christmas! Their St. Joseph’s altar is also stunning around Easter. You then walk up the stairs to the bakery case and café counter to order. There are always such helpful baristas, and they often bring you your dessert and coffee if they aren’t slammed. Otherwise, they’ll call you by name. The petite café tables look like a little snapshot of Italy. It really transports you! Old jazz (think: Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, etc.) plays softly in the background every day.
I didn’t make notes at this point, and I can’t recall the coffee I ordered. Most likely it is a decaf cappuccino with oat milk! We usually visit (my husband and I are almost regulars) in the evenings after dinner, and this is my typical order. The baristas always make tasty espresso drinks. They have seasonal flavors around the holidays, which are always good as well. It’s dependable and never ever disappoints!
For dessert, I usually default to the crème brûlée, but this time I chose my favorite dessert of all time: tiramisu. (It has my heart.) The other little dessert in the background is a pistachio creme-filled croissant!
What a day…
Thanks for travelling with us around one of my favorite historical cities in Louisiana! We were severely overcaffeinated and ate well at Gattuso’s afterward.
Which of the coffee shops would you most likely visit? They are all quite different, so I’d recommend trying each of them, maybe just one at a time!
I hope all of you have a happy Autumn season.
