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Café Bonjour
Just right
Neighborhoods have their own vibe and their own culture. Opening any
business requires research to ensure the business fits the neighborhood
and the neighborhood fits the business. Michelle Zhang, owner of Café
Bonjour has done just that.
 Café
Bonjour opened on Queen Anne in 2008 (that is now closed). "After
I took over the Queen Anne location, I kept the menu for a
little bit, then started changing out what hadn’t been working. Since
the name was Café Bonjour, I wanted to add something that made sense. To
me, that was crepes. After researching, I added them to the menu and it
has been very successful. We make them fresh and they’re great for
breakfast and snacks."
Michelle
is not new to the business. "My family owned Chinese restaurants in
Seattle from 1998-2004. I worked around chefs who taught me a lot. Some
of them were Vietnamese who understood French cooking. I liked to cook
at home and practice what they taught me." After her parents sold the
restaurants, she went a different direction, working with an electronics
import/export firm and traveling frequently. After a few years, she
decided she’d like to return to something she has a passion
for—restaurants. "I’ve always wanted to have my own business and I feel
that if you do something you enjoy, you’ll succeed. It doesn’t matter
how many hours you work if you love what you’re doing."
Michelle opened Cafe Bonjour on Green Lake on December 6, 2010.
As she did with her first location, Michelle is starting slowly and will
respond to the neighborhood’s likes and dislikes. "It won’t be a full
menu right away. We’re starting with the panini, salads, Hungarian
goulash and soups that work at Queen Anne and will add crepes later on.
One difference at Green Lake is that customers can create their own
salads. They choose the type of lettuce, add-ons and meats and the type
of dressing so they get just what they want." She also offers fresh
French pastries, gluten-free bakery products and Belgian waffles and,
a full espresso menu. "We want this to be a place where
neighbors can come frequently so no items on the menu will be over $8
and most will be $5.95 or $6.95," explains Michelle. "Eventually, we’ll
add wine and beer." Menus at both locations are
 updated seasonally and
there are daily specials.
The Green Lake location is large with a kid’s play area. With plenty of space,
Michelle wanted to create a spot where parents can come to relax while
their kids have fun. Comfortable couches near the espresso bar and
kitchen for the adults and TV for cartoons, Wii and video games for kids
in the back. "Every parent needs a break once in awhile," says Michelle
who has a ten-year old son. "There will be monitored play times several
hours a day as well as Tuesday story times. We want to be part of the
community and do something nice for parents and kids."
Photo: Kids play area at Green Lake Cafe Bonjour
Her
other project is a line of organic tea, Seattle Best Organic Tea. She
imports certified organic, vegan green tea rich in antioxidants from the
Yellow Mountain area of China. "The company we work with is quite old
and grows tea at a very high altitude, 900 meters above sea level. The
altitude gives the tea more pure flavor." To ensure she has a tea that
pleases everyone, she works with a company in Chicago blending their
fresh fruit and flowers to flavor the green tea. "You can actually eat
these teas for dessert—they
 are chunky and filled with things like
cranberries and almonds. The mint tea contains lemongrass and one of my
favorites is the Red Rose tea with dried slices of lemon and orange as
well as rose petals. The teas are 75-85% tea and 15-25% flavoring." Both
Café Bonjour locations offer the tea. It can also be purchased to go in
individual packages, 6 and 8 ounce portions or in gift boxes. "People
can buy the tea for home use while they’re here or they can email us and
we’ll ship it," she says.
Michelle works hard to ensure that her cafe meets the needs of the
neighborhood and that makes it just right.
Connie Adams/December 2010 |
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