La Madeleine opens in El Paso!

Story and photos by Ricky J. Carrasco

Arrian, a Madeleine trainer holding a fruit tart.

With a twinkle in his eye and mischievous smile, “La Madeleine” restaurant founder Patrick Esquerre’ states that he has no real culinary experience or business skills. “What I do have is a palate!” In 1983, Esquerre’ started a small cafe in Dallas with the hopes of recreating the taste and feel of a traditional French cafe’. The 68th La Madeleine in the country just opened at the Fountains at Farah shopping center last week to introduce El Paso to something unique in the area.

Arrian, a Madeleine trainer from Dallas explained the fruit tart, one of the traditional deserts offered there. “There is a vanilla pastry crème made in house topped by strawberries, kiwi, oranges, grapes topped by a apricot pastry glaze. It’s one of best sellers.” Though Madeleine offers a wide variety of pastries and deserts, it offers a complete menu with French themed dinners, lunch sandwiches, soups and salads. A first time lunch customer is recommended to get a Croque Monsieur, a French ham and Swiss with garlic cream sauce on wheatberry bread, with a side of their famous Tomato Basil soup, finished by the aforementioned fruit tart.

Hafed Yaiche, vice president of operations, says that El Paso is welcome to come and experience the home styled atmosphere of the restaurant. “Everything is made fresh from scratch and it comes through in the food. All the bread and pastries are made fresh in-house and all the dishes are created fresh here every day. If you come today, you will be back for the food, ambience, and service, which is what we stand for as a company.”

There are 2 more La Madeleine restaurants slated to open in El Paso and 3 for New Mexico in the near future. They are open from 6:30am to 10pm daily. To view their menu, visit their website at: www.lamadeleine.com