CAFE DU LUXE, Denton, Texas

MUGS AND WINE GLASSES HOBNOB
Cafe serves up fine vintages, fresh joe and bites to savor

By Ellen "EJ" Sackett (written for Denton Record-Chronicle)

Cafe Du Luxe isn’t Denton’s best-kept secret. Since it opened five months ago, the word is spreading: It’s a great place to meet friends for conversation and a cup of coffee, a light meal or a glass of fine wine. Owner David Carles describes his cafe as “upscale casual” and says it “provides a choice that raises the quality” in the area. That choice includes freshly roasted coffee beans, both familiar and relatively unknown wines, and healthy yet inexpensive menu items for breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. "We appeal to the North Texas business and medical professionals and give them another alternative to Starbucks and coffeehouses that largely appeal to students,” he said.

Cafe Du Luxe is located in Market Square at Unicorn Lake, where it’s a logical stop for a bite before or after a movie at Cinemark Denton. In addition to convenience, the cafe offers happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, featuring half-price appetizers and $1 off house beer and wines.

Commuters can whip into the drive-through for a specialty coffee fix, brewed “the old-fashioned way,” Carles said. “We use authentic Italian espresso equipment. We grind and dose and tamp and pull the shots by hand. None of it is automated.”

The coffees are designed around a music theme, named after the voices in a choir — the lighter the roast, the higher the voice. The beans come to the cafe extremely fresh.

“We order our coffee from our roaster on Monday; they roast for us on Tuesday; our coffee arrives here Wednesday or Thursday,” Carles said.

Cafe Du Luxe specializes in some “high-quality but relatively unknown” Chilean wines that can’t be purchased at the local grocery, Carles said. The wine list offers a variety and appeals to those who lean toward the familiar as well as aficionados who are more adventurous. Beer drinkers shouldn’t feel left out: Domestic and imported brews are available, too.

Food and drink aren’t the only reasons to come to Cafe Du Luxe; another is the atmosphere. One wall is dedicated to displaying work by regional artists. The exhibit changes monthly, with an artist’s reception every third Sunday. On Saturday evenings, Bill Metzger and Perrin Grace perform light jazz on electric guitar and upright bass. Book clubs, church groups and writers meet regularly to exchange information and ideas.

People can “come in jeans or come in a suit, either way,” Carles said.

It took four years from conception to completion to create Cafe Du Luxe, and it came out almost exactly as Carles envisioned it.

“People are still trying to figure out who we are and what we do,” he said. “We want the word to get out [because] we have something unique to offer.”

$

CAFE DU LUXE
3101 Unicorn Lake Blvd.
940-382-7070
Hours: Monday through Thursday ~ 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
www.cafeduluxe.com

Originally published in Denton Record-Chronicle, DentonTime, January 21, 2010.

Ravelin Bakery, Denton, TX

Hi, I'm EJ, and I'm a breadaholic. This is why I have to force myself to drive past Ravelin Bakery when I'm in the neighborhood. But occasionally I do stop to partake in whatever slice of yumminess jumps out at me through the glass-covered cases. Usually it's one of any number of muffins, which are my true downfall, although I'm really, really partial to the Russian Tea Cookies. Ravelin's lemon bars are most excellent too and give me a jolt in my jaw, if you know what I mean. There are so many choices, I rarely get out of there without an assortment.

So anyway, Thanksgiving is coming, and Ravelin gears up for the big occasion, focusing all its attention on baking pies and breads and some other baked goods to have on hand when family comes for a visit. So here's the skinny (yes, that's supposed to be funny!) about the best bakery in North Texas, also posted on www.goodtastebuds.com.

Eat slowly and carry a big fork,

~ ej

AS EASY AS PIE!

Take One Home for Thanksgiving

By Ellen "EJ" Sackett

Have I got pies for you! Ravelin Bakery is baking pies, sweet pastries and other doughy delights to order for the holidays. With Thanksgiving less than a week away, make haste while the batter's hot. You'll be sure to impress the family with a crust that's flakier than Grandma's. But don't wait until the last minute to decide; it gets pretty busy in the Ravelin kitchen this time of year. Orders are available for pick-up through Wednesday, November 25 (except Monday when the store is closed).

Here's the Thanksgiving Menu:

9" Bread Pudding ~ $32.00

9" Old-fashioned Chocolate Cake ~ $40.95

Pecan Pie ~ $20.50

Chocolate Pecan Pie ~ $21.50

Pumpkin Pie ~ $13.75

Sweet Potato Pie ~ $13.75

Buttermilk Pie ~ $16.50

Key Lime Pie ~ $16.00

Apple Pie ~ $18.50

Cherry Pie ~ $23.00

Apple Almond Tart ~ $23.00

Cherry Almond Tart ~ $23.00

Cherry Struedel ~ $16.00

Apple Struedel ~ $16.00

Pumpkin Bread ~ $4.95

Mini Croissants (1 dozen) ~ $11.00

Cranberry Pecan Bread will also be available on the day before Thanksgiving in addition to Ravelin's fresh artisan breads, made with their own starter. Breads available daily include country sourdough, hearty five-grain, three seed, Bavarian rye, French loaf and baguettes.

Be on the lookout after Thanksgiving for Ravelin's holiday table, which will include baked goodies you can give as presents, such as packaged breads and cookies, fruitcake and traditional German Stollen.

Even if you don't need help with your holiday meals, stop by Ravelin's sometime for a sumptious breakfast pastry, cookie or coffee cake, and pour yourself a cup of coffee to go with. Ravelin also bakes cakes in a variety of sizes to order with one or two day's notice. While you're there, don't forget to pick up a loaf of one of the specialty breads--the list changes daily.

Ravelin Bakery is a not-so-secret secret. Owners Eric and Pamela Helland don't have to advertise, nor do they have a website. Nonetheless, the word is out. Since they opened their doors to Denton eight years ago, they built their success on providing quality baked goods made with whole, all natural ingredients, 100% from scratch. What more need I say?

$$

Ravelin Bakery

416 S. Elm Street, Denton, Texas

(940) 382-8561

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday ~ 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday ~ 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Closed Monday

Thanksgiving Hours:

Closed Thursday & Friday, November 26 & 27

Open regular hours on Saturday & Sunday, November 28 & 29