83: Croissants at Essence Bakery Cafe

Hungry yet?

We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order

Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section.

Visit our sister blog, Jackalope Ranch, for a companion series on 100 Creatives who make Phoenix a little more interesting for all of us. We’ll be posting the next 82 picks daily through the rest of the summer.

Number 83: Croissants at Essence Bakery Cafe

There were already plenty of reasons to love Essence Bakery Cafe: great salads, lovely open-faced sandwiches, and such perfect French macarons that the restaurant does a healthy mail-order business selling the classic confections.

But since the beginning of the year, Essence chef-owner Eugenia Theodosopoulos has begun selling fresh, buttery croissants that are love-at-first-bite delicious.

Thanks to the guidance of an old friend and mentor, Jean Louis Clement (reciepient of an elite Meilleur Ouvrier de France award in boulangerie/viennoiserie), Theodosopoulos was able to perfect a croissant that would stir the appetite and fool the palate of any proud Parisian: buttery, flaky, golden, and seductive.

A rare treat to find in Arizona.

The Favorite Dishes, so far:
84: Coronado Coney at The Main Ingredient
85: Green Chili at Rito’s Mexican Takeout
86: Soup Gyoza at Sens Asian Tapas & Sake Bar
87: Pop Cho and Sweet Ginger at The Breadfruit
88: La Jawab Kadahi Gosht at The Dhaba
89: Chicken & Waffles from Lo-Lo’s
90: Burrata at Humble Pie
91: Bruleed Foie Gras Torchon at Posh
92: Moroccan Nomad Stew at Chakra 4
93: Peking Duck at Gourmet House of Hong Kong
94: Mozzarella Sandwich at Pane Bianco
95: Egg White Omelette at Fez
96: Machaca From Los Dos Molinos
97: Shish Taook from Baiz Market
98: Pasties From Cornish Pasty Co.
99: Clams in Black Bean Sauce From Asian Cafe Express
100: Bruschetta From Postino