A Delectable Addition to the Neighborhood
The line at the counter says it all. Crossroads was hungry for a French bakery. Frederic Courteau and his wife, Vanlee, have created something that lures customers back repeatedly for fresh baked breads and pastries day after day.
Frederic, originally from the French
Riviera, came to Wichita, Kansas as a foreign exchange student in 1984.
He studied hard, earned an MBA, and decided to stay in the United States
after meeting Vanlee. He always loved food and decided
to find a way to build a career doing what he loved.
Frederic and Vanlee bought a wholesale bakery in Bellevue four years ago. The work was demanding, but they were soon serving Seattle’s best independent cafés. They had hoped to open their first retail bakery in Crossroads, but no space was available. Despite urgings from friends who lobbied for a Seattle location, Frederic and Vanlee opened The French Bakery across from the Heathman Hotel in downtown Kirkland earlier this year.
Still with their sights on Crossroads, Frederic and Vanlee jumped at the chance when space recently became available. “Crossroads is my family’s community,” said Frederic. “We love that it’s multi-ethnic and that people are so down to earth. Just regular bread for regular people.”
The French Bakery sells 15 types of breads and 35 types of pastries. Many are ready at the top of the hour throughout the day. They use only the finest ingredients. “Our butter, for example, is the very best butter available in the market today,” said Frederic. Customers rave about the almond croissants, vegetable garden loaf, Challah bread, ham and cheese croissants, and the eye-popping selection of fine desserts. The best-selling item? “Everyone wants chocolate croissants,” said Frederic.
One visit can easily become a part of a daily routine. Frederic, VanLee, and all the employees at The French Bakery are eager to get to know people in the Crossroads community. Stop by soon and welcome them to the neighborhood.
The French Bakery
