Le Dix-Sept Pâtisserie

San Francisco Bakery Le Dix-Sept Finally Pops Open in Potrero Hill, and Here Are All the Pretty Pastries | Eater SF

"Opening November 2 in Potrero Hill, I’m excited about the new Le Dix-Sept Patisserie at 455 Carolina Street: pastry chef‑owner Michelle Hernandez, who trained in Paris and draws inspiration from botanicals, will be doing all of her baking in this official flagship and describes the space as her “lilac dream.” The grand opening rolls out longtime favorites like brioche, canelés, and chewy nougat alongside new cakes, croissants, and focaccia sandwiches, with plans for lots of seasonal specials. Standouts on the pastry case include the passionfruit tart and the anniversary cookie studded with nougat; an autumn cake of rose and vanilla bean layers filled with caramelized pears, frosted in brown sugar buttercream and decorated with mascarpone hearts and ruffles; and a current tart made with calamansi from her mom’s backyard in a crunchy sable crust topped with dragonfruit. A new sheeter lets Hernandez finally turn out layered pastries such as a lush pistachio croissant scented with orange blossom and folded with buckwheat flour, chai palmiers shaped like big crunchy hearts, and diamond danishes framing roasted, glazed sweet potatoes. On the savory side she’s bringing back a fall quiche with maitake mushrooms, warm poblano chiles, and gooey Gruyere, plus focaccia sold by the slab (chiles and anchovies or green olives and herbs) and stacked into vegetable- and fish-forward sandwiches—one features tinned Fishwife fish, sundried tomatoes, peppery arugula, and preserved lemon. Drinks lean botanical too, using coffee from woman‑owned Lady Falcon and offerings like lavender and rose lattes made with her own French lavender syrup, passionfruit‑ginger and prickly pear fizzes, and an iced hot chocolate flecked with mellow pasilla chiles. The new buildout at the foot of the Mason on Mariposa complex brings tall windows and lots of light into an industrial shell painted limewashed lilac, with pink-and-cream tile floors, cloud-like chandeliers, and gold and bronze details inspired by canelé molds; there’s also a “small pantry” retail area stocked with tea, coffee, nougat, candles, Jenny Lemons hair clips, and Bowl Cut Ceramics mugs. After 13 years of working in shared kitchens, Hernandez says it’s been challenging but rewarding to finally have her own space, and she can’t wait to welcome pastry obsessives into the pretty storefront. The shop debuts Saturday, November 2, and will be open 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday." - Becky Duffett