Talk Desserty to Me is a tasty tour of sweet treats around town, from columnist Allison Kay Bannister.
When a person who is as obsessed as I am with indulgent sweets finally gets to go to Paris, I imagine not just one, but a brigade of angels earns their wings.
It was more than a decade ago that I took a solo trip to La Ville Lumière. Some of it feels like yesterday; other parts seem like they happened in a previous life. I stayed in a cute hotel in Montmartre, and the first thing I did when I arrived was find a place to duck out of the rain and begin my culinary joyride. My refuge was called Crêperie Brocéliande and I had crêpes drenched in Grand Marnier, topped with candied oranges, and flambéed tableside. J'étais morte!
This kind of sustentative bacchanalia continued throughout my trip, and when I got home I felt a deep emptiness that was not sated until years later. That was when Chartreuse Sisters opened their doors in early 2023.
Located at the corner of Wealthy and Eastern in a historic space sisters Alyson and Mallory Caillaud-Jones renovated largely themselves, the café began as a traditional French patisserie. Decadent pastries, macarons, coffee drinks, and creative mocktails were on the menu, and on my initial visit, I may or may not have ordered one of everything. Well, I wanted to.
Today, they’ve gravitated toward an approachable, French-American fusion menu with more familiar items to appeal to a broader clientele, but everything is still as magnifique as day one!
Recently, I had a chance to sit down with Alyson, who was both excited and a bit emotional in talking about their evolution.
I went in with the intent of securing my favorite Chartreuserie-exclusive bevvie: Potion No. 34. It’s a lemonade blended with cardamom, orange blossom, and butterfly pea flower tea that turns from blue to purple when stirred. That transformation isn’t just magical; it’s intentional. Alyson told me she wanted interactive drinks to be a part of the cafe’s experience-focused identity, and this concoction is just one of several.
While I wasn’t able to get that drink on the day I was there, that was for a good reason. They are expanding and training new staff, and such alchemy is being reserved for a time when everyone is up to speed. With the extra help, they’re able to open earlier and close later to serve more customers before and after work. The new hours are currently Thursday through Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., BTW.
As Alyson and I talked, I glanced off and on in anticipation at the to-go container next to me, which held a pecan pie bar, as well as a chocolate-cherry cookie from an event they’d just catered. I ate a good chunk of the bar in the car on my way home, I am not at all ashamed to say. And I had the cookie for breakfast the next day. This is the stuff (my) dreams are made of, and I could feel that post-Paris longing I once had drift away.
I know I’m not alone in my fandom. Chartreuse Sisters won Best Mocktails in Best of the West and were a finalist in three categories: Bakery, Coffee Shop, and Desserts!
Their fall baked goods menu just started, and their beloved mocktails are expected to return soon with the possibility of some new flavors as they find inspiration. In addition to seasonal items, Chartreuse Sisters also has year-round offerings, many of which have become staples because of customer demand.
The best way to keep up with what’s available is to follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
