From Anne Clelland:

Have I stopped for la religieuse and a coffee at a pâtisserie in Paris?

It's starting to feel that way at Our Daily Bread Bakery and Cafe in Blacksburg, Virginia, since Thierry and Danielle Tellier became the new owners.

Being a new company owner myself, I treasure clients who take a chance on me and ask me to do what I do best.

So I called Our Daily Bread.  I knew from her exquisite accent that I was speaking to Danielle Tellier.

"What do you love to make?" I asked.  "What dessert have you brought to Blacksburg that is unique to you?  Would you be willing to make that for a dinner party?"

What a warm, gracious "yes" she gave me.

She asked me what I liked.  I loved that.

As a fellow company owner, I appreciated that implicit in her question was that she offered many desserts - many products - all one-of-a-kind.  Very nice.

As a customer, I felt seen and valued.  Very nice.

"Surprise me," I said.

I ended up awed.

Thierry Tellier created art.

I can in no way do justice to the creation of our dinner party dessert, nor to its ingredients.  I can share my experience, though:  I felt enchanted by the  mix of dark and white chocolate shaped to resemble grapes adorning the top, the swirls of chocolate mousse as the upper layer, the middle layer textured with perhaps wafer and hazelnut, and by the bottom layer - red velvet cake.

Now that's the perfect taste for a little Paris in Blacksburg.