7 Leaves Café & Crema Bakery Team Up For Fountain Valley Eatery

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA — Two, popular local businesses, 7 Leaves Café, known for its exotic teas, coffees and macarons, and Crema Bakery, with a local fan following for its baked goods, are teaming up to open a new restaurant in July in Fountain Valley.

The fast-casual café, ARTISAN, will be "reminiscent of a fine Parisian boulangerie," complete with a display of fresh-baked breads and pastries, plus a chef-driven, brunch-inspired menu, according to management.

“With the ARTISAN concept, we want to take the trust and sense of community that we’ve built over the past decade to the next level with an elevated offering that dives deeper into the guest experience,” said Sonny Nguyen, co-founder of 7 Leaves, which launched in 2011 with one tiny shop and now has 25 locations, most throughout California.

ARTISAN, at 10065 Garfield Ave., will be 3,000 square feet, with a European-style, relaxed and inviting decor, company officials said. A July 24 grand opening is planned, and, until then, a drive-thru is operating with limited offerings.

The restaurant's culinary team, led by Crema Bakery and Executive Chef Chad Urata, plans a "brunch-focused anytime" menu with such dishes as a “Perfect” Omelette, Parisian eggs benedict, avocado toast, bacon & egg sandwiches and mochiko chicken sandwiches. Fresh-baked goods will include a variety of breads, croissants, cookies, macarons and the "Artisan Croffle" — a Crema Bakery specialty.

"While all of our baked goods are made by hand using the best ingredients — the most important being time – our stand-out offering is definitely the Artisan Croffle,” said Crema Bakery founder and owner Tarit Tanjasiri, adding, "It’s unlike anything you’ve ever had."

"Croffle is a portmanteau of croissant and waffle, since we take our signature croissant dough and cook it in a waffle iron, rather than the oven, to create a truly unique item that is crisp, yet flaky and buttery all at once,” said Tanjasiri, who first opened his small Crema Café on Main Street in Seal Beach in 2006, before expanding with the wholesale Crema Artisan Bakers division.

Crema's fresh-baked products now are found at many of the region’s best restaurants, along with the Orange farmers market.

ARTISAN will tap 7 Leaves' beverage expertise with a core tea menu, unique to the brand, including a Green and Red Thai Tea. The menu also will feature such barista-created coffee and espresso drinks as Sea Cream Black Coffee and a Honey Vanilla Latte, along with 7 Leaves' tea-fan favorites, Sea Cream Jasmine, Japanese Matcha, Summer Mint, Sunset Passion and Strawberry Hibiscus.

Upon opening, the restaurant will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Follow this link for ARTISAN updates.

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