Rosallie – Le French Café
Double Espresso on Ice
Peppermint Latte
S’mores Latte
Hot Chocolate
Smoked Salmon Sandwich
Chipotle Chicken Sandwich
Apple Cobbler
Canele
Kouign Amann
Palmier
Almond Croissant
Fresh Roll with Cassis Jam
Butter Croissant
Chocolate Mousse
Tiramisu
Walnut Pie
Apple Turnover
Taking a chance on “le petit café & bakery,” a new place less than ten minutes away from Las Vegas’ current reference standard for French pastries, it was with a disheartened sigh that the newer spot was exited, a visit to Rosallie – Le French Café assuring that my palate had not become jaded by a recent trip to Europe while at the same time confirming a belief that Jonathan Pluvinet’s ever evolving restaurant on South Rainbow is exactly the sort of place for which Sin City has long been in need.
Now featuring repainted windows, a center island and the pending Wine Cellar with a soundtrack of French tunes lightly playing overhead, it was just past 11:15am that a camera crew shooting a school project was passed in entering the quaint, casual environment – several folks still sipping Coffee while enjoying a Croissant as others opted for a Quiche, Salad or Sandwich.
Consistently one of the most humble and pleasant Chefs in the City, admittedly someone I consider a friend in addition to his roles as baker and owner of Rosallie, it was after lengthy discussion with Chef Pluvinet that a seat was taken, the young Frenchman sending out both new and old creations including Jam made in France from the Currants of his parents’ garden, plus work-in-progress Caneles and an Apple Cobbler with thick chunks of buttery Streusel offering a brief glimpse of new ideas arriving at Summer’s end.
Having added both Kouign Amann and an Apple Turnover to the menu since my last visit, the former like those in Bordeaux in that the center is soft-set amidst shattering layers of Butter while the latter is flaky and light without a bunch of added sweetness beyond the fresh fruit itself, an hour approaching noon also saw two standout Sandwiches shared with friends arriving later, the Salmon’s subtle flavors enhanced by Capers and Onions while tender Chicken got some heat from housemade Olive Oil Chipotle ‘Mayo’ atop sliced loaves of Pluvinet’s Wholegrain Bread.
Taking sips of a few new beverages, the Mint Latte simply not my style while a Nutella S’mores float atop Coffee and European-style 62% Cocoa Hot Chocolate far better suited the sweet tooth, the flavors of both the out-of-place Tiramisu and an airy Chocolate Mousse each spoke to the use of high quality ingredients, all the other items continuing to show an utmost adherence to craftsmanship with the Almond Croissant and Walnut Pie still a *must* at every visit.
FIVE STARS: Still continuing to think, tweak and create despite establishing a good clientele at one year in, perhaps the greatest comment one can pay to Jonathan Pluvinet is just how ‘authentic’ much of his project truly is, so many items eschewing the American standard of sweetness and instead focusing specifically on how they are offered in his homeland.
RECOMMENDED: Almond Croissant, Walnut Pie, Apple Turnover, Chipotle Chicken Sandwich, Kouign Amann.
AVOID: Canele are a work in progress, but a first taste promises good things.
TIP: New items continue to arrive as time allows to create, the recent “Build your own sandwich” option a great choice at an cost not substantially higher than Major Chains despite sporting superior ingredients.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
