Restaurant: Creative Crepes 9 Pennsylvania Ave, Rochester, NY 14609 (315) 573-8377
Chef: Andrew Woodard and Li Xiang Poncz
Nothing makes me happier than seeing people live their passion (unless their passion is cooking amazing food – then nothing makes me happier than eating their passion). And living their passion is what owners and chefs Andrew Woodard and Li Xiang Poncz are doing every Saturday at the Rochester Public Market. I stopped by on a rainy Saturday for a Strawberry, Banana and Nutella Stuffed Crepe drizzled with Cherry Balsamic Vinegar. These crepes are beautifully light, melting in your mouth like a good crepe should, with just enough tooth and chew to stand up to the considerable filling (to this girl, when it comes to crepe filling, ratio is everything). There is great flavor to these crepes, a sweet, ever-so-slightly yeasty flavor that makes them delicious in and of themselves. Woodard and Poncz aren’t relying on the filling to do the heavy lifting, they’re making a quality crepe that doesn’t fade into the background, a major factor that helped push this dish to Best Dish status. The filling itself was superb. Fresh, sweet strawberries and thinly sliced bananas draped in glorious Nutella and then drizzled with that lovely tart-sweet cherry balsamic vinegar. The vinegar has a deep, rich cherry flavor without the bite of a traditional balsamic. It adds just enough tartness and depth, balancing the flavors and cementing this as a breakfast dish and not a dessert. Fresh, light, full of flavor and served up amid the bustle of a Market Saturday. I can’t think of a better way to start the day.
-Allison Zimmer, A-List Contributor
