Emilie and The Frenchies: from the Mediterranean to the Pacific
At 16, during a summer study abroad in Santa Cruz, Céline Molière fell in love with California. She stayed with Mary Jane and her mother, Esperanza, a francophile, beginning a lifelong friendship that would eventually connect their families between Nice and Santa Cruz.
Back in France, Céline studied business and entered the hospitality world. There she met Emilie, who had a killer cookie recipe, and together they launched Emilie and the Cookies in Nice—offering gooey cookies, cupcakes, bagels, cheesecakes, and to-go lattes inspired by California coffee culture. Side note: finding a supplier for to-go cups in France proved to be a struggle in a country that celebrates sitting at a terrace while leisurely drinking coffee.
Quickly, the small 35 square meters location grew into more, evolving into Emilie and the Cool Kids, with outlets across France, Iceland, and Monaco. Emilie eventually moved on, an investment fund came in, and Céline built the brand into five shops and 25 franchises across Europe.
All the while, the California dream lingered. Mary Jane, – the very same one from the EF exchange decades ago – now trained as a Starbucks barista to understand all the ins and outs, suggested opening a café together in Santa Cruz. In 2024, she became Céline’s business partner, alongside Céline’s wife, Elise, who leads the creative side. And so Emilie and the Frenchies was born, Céline’s passion project on the Pacific.
The café blends French charm with Santa Cruz’s surf-town ease: pink walls with green stripes, floral wallpaper coming all the way from France, and a
homey atmosphere The menu features homemade French classics: Parisien sandwich, Croque Monsieur and Croque-au-Brie, Burrata toast, goat cheese salad, Niçoise salad, quiches. Impossible not to mention the star of the menu: the Pan Bagnat, a Nice specialty made with the recipe of Lou Balico, Celine’s favorite restaurant in Nice. I also spotted my own Proust Madeleine: “oeufs à la coque & mouillettes” (that’s one hard to translate – “soft boiled eggs does not do justice to the meal) that are against early expectations becoming a best-seller in Santa Cruz. Over the summer, croissants, made with French butter and imported all the way from France, were added to the list.
Céline stayed loyal to her French suppliers with Valrhona chocolate and Malongo coffee, while embracing California’s farms for fresh produce. Next projects? Homemade jams, and maybe evening events featuring raclette and fondue.
The goal was to make Emilie and the Frenchies feel like your French best friend’s home—relaxing, delicious, and welcoming. Pari réussi. I left smiling, thanks to a pan bagnat and gooey cookie, and grateful for the serendipity that brought a piece of the Mediterranean to California’s coast.
Merci SF Rapid Fire
Favorite meal on the menu: Pan Bagnat, full of love
Favorite Bakery in Santa Cruz: Companion Bakery – incredible baguette
What you miss the most from France: My friends, especially long apero around good food and drinks with my friends,
If you were to leave Santa Cruz/Bay, what would you miss the most? The climate – never too hot, never too cold – all year round, and people’s kindness. I am also a better person here – more relaxed.
Emilie and The Frenchies, 7564 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003
Open Wed-Fri 7AM-3:30PM, Sat-Sun 8AM.2:30PM
Merci Céline !
Dining and Cooking