"Welcome to Five Senses Coffee"

It’s a grey and dreary Tuesday and I’m grumpy. I don’t like winter, and today is the seventh miserable day in a row. To make matters worse, rain starts to fall the instant I step foot out of my car. Just perfect!

Muttering nasty things under my breath, I stomp grumpily along Broadway, a ferocious scowl broadcasting my displeasure to unsuspecting passersby. In keeping with my dislike of all things winter, I believe it’s important not to make any concessions to the season. This means I own only one coat (which my sister bought me), two pairs of closed-toe shoes (neither of which are suitable for wearing in the rain) and I certainly don’t own an umbrella. I’m swiftly getting soaked. I pull up my hood, but it doesn’t help much. Then I spy something in the distance that wipes the scowl clean off my face — La Galette de France. Ah, a port in the storm!

It seems I’m not the only one seeking respite from the rain — it’s packed. I’m lucky enough to snaffle up the last free table inside. There’s an eclectic mix of patrons; a large family enjoying a decadent late breakfast, replete with several baby cino’s, an elderly mother and daughter enjoying a catch up, the odd professional or two sneaking a break from the office, and a cosy couple braving the elements outside.

La Galette is decked out in a simple black and white colour scheme, with white painted wooden doors and window frames, plenty of Eiffel Tower motifs and a water bowl outside for pooches who are patiently waiting for their masters — very French.

I’m on my own today, which affords me the opportunity to indulge in a bit of shameless eavesdropping. Yes, yes, my mother always taught me that was rude, but there’s no denying that it’s one of the secret pleasures of going to a café solo. From what I hear, it appears that La Galette has a dedicated following. Customers gossip to each other cheerily at the counter before returning to their own separate tables, and the barista greets a couple of guys who’ve dropped in for a takeaway as though they’re old friends. I suspect that La Galette attracts plenty of regulars from Alliance Francaise, which is just a short stroll up the road.

There’s a two man team working the Synesso and it brings a smile to my face to hear them discussing their ristretto technique. These guys pump out a surprising amount of coffee. There’s no let up in the pace, as they cater to a steady stream of customers queuing up for a takeaway, as well as those of us enjoying table service.

My crêpes soon arrive, which spells the end of my eavesdropping, as my attention shifts firmly to my plate. I’ve gone with simple lemon and sugar crêpes, and they arrive with beautifully crispy edges. Delicious. Nearby tables sport some rather more indulgent varieties — something along the lines of raspberry with homemade chocolate sauce, roasted almonds and ice cream. I’m still glad I got the lemon and sugar. There are also savoury crêpes, like chicken and mushroom, ham cheese and tomato or spinach and ricotta.

Before I’m even halfway through the crêpes, my gaze is drawn to the mass of naughty little sweet things on display. There’s an abundance of tarts — large ones for sharing, and little ones all for yourself, lemon, strawberry, almond, apple and more. The vanilla slice looks amazing, and the chocolate and coffee éclairs will be hard to resist. The pastries would certainly cheer up this wintery day — there are croissants (plain, chocolate and almond), all kinds of danishes, brioches, palmiers, snails and lots of other temptations.

I decide that the boys at the roastery deserve a treat, and spend a delightful couple of minutes umming and ahhing over which goodies to buy them. By the time I emerge with a telltale rustling white paper bag tucked under my arm, the rain has stopped and there’s a smile on my face. Sure, the sky is still grey, and I’m sure it’s going to start raining again any minute now, but I’ve discovered the perfect place to escape the winter blues.

La Galette de France: 125b Broadway, Nedlands WA 6009; Phone: (08) 9386 5097
Opening Hours: Open 7 days a week, 6.30am – 5.00pm Monday to Saturday, 6.30am – 2.00pm on Sundays

La Galette de France can also be found in Subiaco and South Perth:
South Perth: Shop 3, 35 Mends Street; Phone: (08) 9474 9730
Subiaco: Subiaco Markets, Station Street; Phone: (08) 9388 9286