Anyone who has spent time sittingand chatting over espresso in a European restaurant, will be rightat home at Marjolaine. Last week, Joe and Margaret Novak openedtheir luxuriously appointed Marjolaine for some of their European-stylecakes, pastries and individual Italian-style breads.
The Novaks opened a store in Saratoga, Oct. 1, 1983, and madea fast reputation with their wedding cakes and French pastries.Some of their wedding cakes reached new heights in compositionand cost, but oh so delightful and tasty.
When they have their grand opening June 1, they will bring alongall the fine wedding cakes and pastries they feature in Saratoga,but in Los Altos they will include additional deli sandwichesand a variety of Foccacia, an individual Italian bread. For lunchthey serve soups and salads and some stuffed croissants for dessert.Soon the store will add homemade biscotti and flavored coffeessold by the pound.
“We are so happy to be here. Everyone is so supportive ofus and everyone is welcoming us,” Margaret said. “Weare a family business and Joey, our son, will be working withus this summer.”
The name of the restaurant, Marjolaine means a French pastry,a hazelnut meringue torte with chocolate filling.
“It’s a special-order desert with us,” Margaret said.”But it’s really a shortening of Mar for me, and Jo for Joe.Marjo-laine.”
The restaurant offers luxury appointed features. All the countersand eating tables have a granite top. The floor is oak, and allthe display cases are first rate and new. After they are openfor a few weeks, local artists will provide their work for displayon the large white walls.
There are no secrets in the kitchen, but there are secret ingredientsthat make the food taste so good. Everything Marjolaine makesis from scratch. The kitchen uses whole eggs, fresh butter andthe best liquors available to put in cakes as the soaking solution.For chocolate, it’s the finest from Belgium.
When the weather warms this summer, Marjolaine will serve sorbetsand granitas which have a heavier consistency than sorbets. Eventuallythey will feature live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Novaks work constantly between their two stores. In theirspare time they like to be with their children, Joey, 14, andKimi, 9.
“We like to go to the movies and we like to go hiking withJoe. We like water, and the kids like to swim so we spend a dayat the beach when we can,” Margaret said. “When we takethe family out to eat we visit the Asian restaurants in the areabecause the children like a variety of Asian foods.”
Marjolaine is located at 134 Main St., Los Altos. For moreinformation, call 949-2226.
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