Chef de Crêpe is decked out for the start of the Olympic Games, including its featured, “White Chocolate Cheesecake” milkshake, on the right.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will take place from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, Aug. 11, featuring over 10,000 athletes and 1.8 million international visitors. For a taste of Paris without the plane ticket, check out the following regional eateries with a passion for filling your plate with global flavors.
Bistro Barbaret & Bakery
26 E. King St., Lancaster
(717) 690-2354
https://barberetlancasterpa.com/
Bistro Barbaret & Bakery is located in downtown Lancaster, run by the award-winning French pastry chef Cédric Barbaret and his wife Estelle. The bakery features classic French macarons and pastries – such as the coffee-and-chocolate layered “L’opéra” cake – alongside Pennsylvania-inspired desserts, including the “Snickers” made with peanut butter mousse, salted caramel and a hazelnut dacquoise.
For a quick meal, grab any number of the bakery’s ready-made baguettes, sandwiches, salads or quiches. For a heartier option, schedule brunch, lunch or dinner in the bistro, where classic French appetizers like escargots (snails) and Lyonnaise quenelles cozy up with entrées like mussels, steak-frites, and bouillabaisse fish stews (weekends only). Bon appétit!
Chef de Crêpe
2017 Market St., Camp Hill
(717) 603-3821
https://chefdecrepes.com/
Inspired by the Chaverez family’s passion for study and travel in Europe, Chef de Crêpe serves up sweet and savory crêpes with fun American twists alongside French-themed burgers, salads, sandwiches and coffee. For the best of Pennsylvania and France, order the Philly steak crêpe with angus beef and sautéed mushrooms and finish with the seasonal peach cobbler crêpe with dulce de leche and a shortbread crumble.
For the Olympics (known in French as “les Jeux Olympiques”), the restaurant will be featuring themed stuffed croissants on Saturdays starting July 27, and a towering “White Chocolate Cheesecake” milkshake topped with a French flag sugar cookie.
Mandros Imported Foods
351 N. Charlotte St., Lancaster
(717) 397-8926
www.mandrosimportedfoods.net/
Mandros Imported Foods offers one of the region’s best and fairly priced selections of international treats, including a rich selection of Greek olive oils, Italian pastas and barrel feta. For a taste of France, look for jars of zippy mustard from Dijon, jam from the Pyrennées mountains near Spain, and paper-wrapped packets of golden-hued Isigny Ste. Mère butter. Ask for French cheese advice at the counter at the far end of the store, where brothers Bill and Dino will guide you from triple crème brie to lacy blue Roquefort and everything in between.
Au Bon Lieu
110 Rear W. Chocolate Ave,, Hershey
Strawberry Square, 1 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg
https://aubonlieu.com/
You may have to drive past the entrance once before you find it, but this small crêperie behind the Knock Knock Boutique on West Chocolate Avenue has been a Hershey staple for 10 years. Serving a focused menu that includes French-pressed coffee and light salads, Au Bon Lieu’s savory crêpes prize Mediterranean ingredients like pesto, olives and mozzarella. Their dessert crêpes feature Belgian chocolate, homemade caramel, and fresh fruit. Can’t get to Hershey? Visit the Strawberry Square location in Harrisburg instead. At either location, mention the 2024 Olympics Games and receive a free Classic Crêpe – flavors include the iconic French combination of butter and lemon – on the house.
Frédéric Loraschi Chocolate
4615 Hillcrest St., Harrisburg
www.fredericloraschichocolate.com/
Owner Frédéric Loraschi has been crafting artisanal chocolates and single-origin bars in the Harrisburg area since 2005. Only recently has he added an exceptional array of French viennoiseries, like croissants or pain au chocolat, on Saturdays. Visit his sleek boutique off of Jonestown Road for rich ice cream sold by the pint, luxury hot chocolate and classic truffles, caramels, macarons and pâté de fruits. For your Olympic watch party, order a decadent Banoffee (feeds 6-8) with coconut, caramelized bananas and passionfruit cream. If you’re not one for tropical fruits, consider the “Blueberry Cloud” cake featuring toasted almonds, a moist vanilla sponge, and white chocolate mousse. Either cake will be likely to convince you that French baking merits its own Olympic category.
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