I’m obsessed with crêpes. I have been since my 24th birthday when I first tried a brand-new, tiny, hole-in-the-wall crêpe stand in the city where I went to university. For years, crêpes were a weekly bite for me. I punctuated most happy (and sometimes sad) memories with a crêpe. That crêpe stand sadly no longer exists, but it birthed in me an obsession not so easily terminated. I have since procured my own crêpe wheel and–while I’m alright at spinning my own–it’s certainly not the same experience as having a real aficionado do it for me. Since my current stomping grounds are without a crêperie, this has left a bit of a hole in my heart. Call me a closet Francophile if you must. (My beret wearing infatuation, love of French wines, pastries, baguettes, and my current Duolingo score might agree with you.) At the end of the day, I accept it as a fact: to be happy, I need more crêpes in my life. Here enters La Crême. While Zeeland, Michigan is about a three hour drive for me, a visit to La Crême is worth the long drive. Offering both sweet and savory crêpes, La Crême fills the crêpe-sized hole in my heart.
For those looking for savory, buckwheat crêpes (or galettes, as they are often called) folded into a square shape: look elsewhere. That’s not what you’ll find at La Crême and, frankly, I’m glad because that’s not what I’m personally craving when I want my tummy to be filled with crêpe. The crêpes that they’re making are precisely the crêpes that I want: basic crêpe batter, filled with various deliciousness, and folded into a triangle. I have too many favorite crêpes from their menu to name; were I to try, I’d basically just be reciting their entire menu. However, the Bonjour, Monte Cristo, and Pomme are all standout savory crêpes. For sweet crêpes, they offer things as simple as the Citron, which is a classic crêpe with butter, a squeeze of lemon, and a dusting of sugar or as complex as Le Louvre which contains wild blueberry preserves, lemon curd, and cream cheese. In the fall, I got to try a special pumpkin cheesecake crêpe on offer and it was absolutely divine. Their current special is spinach, chicken, artichoke, garlic, and crushed red pepper, with brie and a drizzle of honey. C’est magnifique! However, the crêpe that will likely always hold the most special place in my heart is the Brie+Honey: brie, toasted walnuts, cranberries, brown sugar, and a honey drizzle. Absolute bliss.
Aside from crêpes, they offer some other small bites and soups: but crêpes are truly the reason to go to this delightful little spot. The atmosphere is relaxed, but elegant. Large carafes of water adorn every table–a detail I adore. Most notably: I ordered a brewed coffee for $2.50. A small pot was brought to the table and rendered, at least, three pours. An excellent deal and delicious addition to my meal. I really can’t recommend La Crême highly enough. As someone not from Zeeland, I can’t even use the hackneyed phrase “stop by if you’re in the area.” I don’t care how far you have to travel; La Crême is worth the drive.


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