French couple lives out their American dream with downtown Conroe’s Paulette Cafe
By Sondra Hernandez, Staff writerAug 6, 2024
When Nathalie Annequin first visited downtown Conroe a few years ago, it was just like she envisioned America would be as a girl growing up in France.
She and her husband, Jérôme, owned restaurants in the Lyon, France area but always dreamed of branching out they just never thought it would be to the U.S., let alone Texas until they discovered Montgomery County while visiting French friends in the Houston suburb of Cypress.
They suggested the couple visit Lake Conroe, downtown Conroe and The Woodlands.
« When we arrived in downtown Conroe, it was a special atmosphere for us. It was the picture of an American city. I said ‘Wow, I’m feeling very well here,' » she said. « In France we had a restaurant by a lake so the lake (Lake Conroe) reminded me of the atmosphere in France. »
They sold their French restaurants and opened up Paulette Cafe, an authentic French restaurant, on the downtown Conroe square in December. It’s at 406 N. Thompson Street on the first floor of the Moreland Professional Building.
Taste of France
The pastries and dishes are authentic to her homeland and ones she grew up watching her mother cook and bake with her father helping. Her parents also owned restaurants and she grew up in an atmosphere where food was special. Paulette is her mother’s name.
« Lyon is the best place for very good food. It’s very famous for that. I grew up keeping in mind that the food was very good and made with fresh ingredients, » she said.
The cafe specializes in crêpes, pastries, soups, salads, quiches, coffees, French sandwiches like the Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame. They also serve pizzas baked in the traditional French way and offer catering.
Annequin said the dough for the pizza is airy and is more bread like than American versions. Her husband Jérôme is the chef and their daughter-in-law Pauline also helps run the cafe.
She has fallen in love with the atmosphere of downtown.
‘This is still the American dream’
« The people are very kind, very polite and very respectful, » she said « For us this is still the American dream. » In France, they grew up with strong connections to food and she wanted to share that atmosphere here as well.
« I said let’s do it, let’s bring a piece of France to downtown Conroe, » Annequin said.
One customer in an online reviewed liken the experience to being in a French cafe during the Olympics. There are statues of the Eiffel Tower here and there, the colors of the French flag and pieces of the culture scattered throughout the cafe.
Annequin is even teaching regular customer George Renneberg a few phrases in French.
He’s an attorney and business often takes him to the Montgomery County Courthouse across the street.
« I make a habit of dropping by after court anytime I come downtown, » he said. « Nathalie is a very charming lady and she tries to teach this old dude some French with little success. »
He likes the French-style pizza, the crepes and the French-style breakfast. He also likes the beignets but notes they are not the same as the doughy squares loaded with powdered sugar served in New Orleans.
He said the bread here is heavier and not quite as drenched in powdered sugar.
After enjoying a cup of French roast coffee Monday morning, Annequin called out « au revoir » — goodbye in French — from behind the counter bidding Renneberg farewell as he carried on with his day.
Aug 6, 2024
Sondra Hernandez