A Chicago Patisserie

Croissants. Pear Charlotte. Chocolate croissants. Tiramasu. Twelfth Night Cake. Baguettes. Palmiers. Right here in Algonquin, Illinois. Traditional French nuns, in full habits, bake authentic French pasteries. In the Algonquin Commons mall, for heaven's sake.

The nuns are called "traditional" according to my Catholic friends, because their order did not go along with the changes made to the church back in the '60s...mass in the language of the people instead of Latin, the priest facing the congregation instead of the altar, nuns in suits. They run a homeless shelter in Chicago and raise money for the poor by baking these delightful treats. What better reason to head out to Algonquin (or go to Farmers' Markets around Chicago/Elmhurst in the summer).

Go out I-90 towards Rockford. Just after the Elgin toll facility, exit on Randall Road. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right on Randall Road. Go about 5 miles. There is a huge shoping center on your left, with a Barnes & Noble on the near corner. Turn there. The patisserie will be right in front of you.

The nuns speak French, chatting with each other as they fill your order..and perhaps disagreeing, or - can it be - arguing along the way. So following the strict French shopping protocol I learned in Paris, I said "Merci" and "Bonjour" as I left. The nuns replied "Ya. Bye." We all laughed.

And here's a hint for when you get home: Be very clear about what you have bought and what you, personally, expect to have for breakfast tomorrow, or you might wake up to find that both chocolate croissants and one butter croissant are already gone before the coffee is made and you have driven 40 miles for nearly nothing. Sacre bleu.