Looking to enjoy a nice cup of tea or a macaron in a bakery with that quintessential “French” feel? Hen & Heifer is your place.
Photo courtesy of Hen and Heifer
Before you even taste the food, the decor is overwhelming. It is a small space, but it is decorated with such purpose. The mood feels as if you have just stepped into a cafe in Paris. It is very “french country,” with three beautiful, cozy window seats (with little stools for your feet!) and other petite stools for the rest of your party.
Photo by Becca Weinzimer
The display case is full of pastries and is presented with as much style as the store. They have anything you could possibly want from muffins, to tarts, to macarons. Everything is made fresh every day, and they are almost too perfect and beautiful to be edible.
Photo by Becca Weinzimer
We ordered a quiche to start, and it was served piping hot. This quiche was by far the best I have ever had. It was simple, yet full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The crust was buttery and just the right amount of flakiness, while the inside was moist and silky, with a peppery top.
Photo by Becca Weinzimer
After polishing off the quiche in a matter of minutes, we moved onto the pastry part of our meal. We got a pistachio financier for my sister, a carrot muffin for my mom, and a lemon olive oil minibread for me. They were all incredibly delicious, and we certainly did a lot of sharing.
Photo by Becca Weinzimer
Tempted by the macarons, we grabbed one of each to go; a raspberry rose, a fig violet, and a vanilla ginger. They were packaged in the most adorable box, with a little window to show off their beauty.
Photo by Becca Weinzimer
After our busy day of errands, we came back home and cracked open the box. After plating the macarons to my satisfaction, we very professionally taste-tested each one. We started with the vanilla ginger, and it was surprisingly gingery! Usually, I find that bakers skimp on the ginger, and since it is my favorite spice, I am often disappointed. But not in this case!
Each of the macarons has a layer of jelly or jam between the creme center and the cookie. It adds a little bit of moisture and a bright burst of flavor. The fig and violet one was very unique and tasty, but not as good as the other two, in our professional opinion. The rose and raspberry was the favorite, unanimously, because the two flavors were perfectly balanced. I love rose because the flavor fills all of your senses. It is such a delicate, yet powerful flavor. Here’s a trick: exhale slowly through your nose with the bite in your mouth, and you will really taste it on a whole new level.
Photo by Becca Weinzimer
The whole Hen & Heifer experience is quite special. The combination of the food and atmosphere creates a mood that fills you with happiness and coziness. I appreciate my mom and sister’s patience in letting me photograph our whole meal; this bakery is very photogenic. We will certainly be returning on a regular basis now. Make the trip and your photos will be very popular!