This summer, la Madeleine Country French Café is bringing the seasonal allure of one of the world’s most desired destinations right to its cafés.
“Summer in the French countryside is unlike any other in the world,” says Susan Dederen, vice president of culinary for la Madeleine. “From leisurely strolls amid open-air markets to harvesting the freshest produce available for meals with friends and family, the experience and tastes of the French countryside is not to be missed at our cafés this summer.”
In honor of French summer traditions, la Madeleine is highlighting the season’s best fruits and vegetables with several delightful new menu offerings, including the Grape & Pecan Chicken Salade Croissant, the Bacon & Berry Salade, and several new blueberry patisseries.
“With all of our seasonal menu innovation, we are constantly working to maintain authenticity with a true French inspiration point,” says John Cahill, president of the Dallas-based brand. “We want guests who step into our cafés to feel as though they have been transported to the French countryside, where they can slow down, savor their meal, and enjoy fresh cuisine. Our new menu items, highlighting the freshly picked flavors of summer, allow our guests to do just that.”
Nothing brings guests at la Madeleine closer to the French countryside than the Grape & Pecan Chicken Salade Croissant, which is a summer twist on the fan favorite classic Chicken Salade. Made with balsamic-marinated chicken, fresh red grapes, chopped pecans, and celery on a flaky, all-butter croissant, the sandwich is paired with a Cranberry Pecan Wild Field Salade with sweet dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and field greens tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette.
And the freshest flavors of the season take center stage in the delectable Bacon & Berry Salade featuring blueberries and strawberries with mandarin oranges, roasted almonds and smoky bacon, served on field greens tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. As an added treat or lagniappe, the Bacon & Berry salade is served with la Madeleine’s signature Lemon Madeleine.
Made fresh each day in the bakeries, la Madeleine is also featuring several new blueberry patisseries, including a Blueberry Crème Tart, Blueberry Crème Danish, and Liberté Tart.
The Blueberry Crème Tart features homemade pastry crème topped with fresh blueberries and a rosette of fresh whipped cream in a sweet tart shell. The Blueberry Crème Danish is made from flaky croissant dough filled with homemade pastry crème, topped with fresh blueberries, baked until golden and finished with fondant. The Liberté Tart consists of sweet puff pastry topped with pastry crème and adorned with fresh blueberries, whipped cream, and raspberries—representing the blue, white, and red of the French flag.
“Tucked in the heart of France, there’s a rich slice of land called Auvergne, where blueberries grow in the wild,” Dederen says. “The cherished berries inspired their own dessert, the Tarte aux Myrtilles, or blueberry tart. We were inspired by this French tradition to create our Blueberry Crème Tart. We look forward to serving our guests a sweet taste of summer in France with this our Tart and other summer features.”
