Time for a tart and tasty pastry

When I first moved to Spokane, way back in 1980, I lived on the North Side. On Hawthorne Road, just east of what was then called Whitworth College. In fact, our rented house was just about halfway between the college and what used to be the Starlite Drive-In (later the Newport Cinemas).

In the fall of 1980, my first wife and I bought a house on the South Hill. But we continued to drive north on a regular basis, taking in movies at the North Cedar Drive-In, the Y Drive-In and, later, at both the Newport and Lyons Ave. Cinemas. Now that all of those theaters are long closed, the farthest north I tend to drive is NorthTown Mall and, on occasion, the Costco on Division St.

But this morning, for purely nostalgic reasons, I continued north. And as I drove up Country Homes Boulevard, I spotted the Petit Chat Village Bakery. And, feeling hungry, I stopped in. Ten minutes later, I returned to my car, two freshly baked croissants in hand. One was a cranberry-turkey-swiss concoction; the other a cherry pastry. Both were delicious, with just that touch of crusty croissant you find all over Europe (but are so uncommon here in the U.S.).

I’m sure my cholesterol count went up and my waistline will no doubt continue to expand. But, at least for the moment, I consider the price worth paying. Makes me want to make another trip north real soon.

If only one of those drive-ins were still open, I might be tempted to return later tonight.