I love a quiet Saturday morning where I take some time for myself and ease into the weekend with a stroll downtown and a visit to Julie Myrtille’s Bakery at the Farmer’s Market for a delicious Parisian pastry.
Updated January 30, 2017: Crème de la Crème has been rebranded as Julie Myrtille’s Bakery. This post has been revised to reflect this change.
Before heading to the market, Stella and I stretch our legs with a walk around Town Lake while taking in the city views. The fresh air allows me to reflect on my past week, mentally prepare my to-do list for the weekend and set my intentions for the rest of the day. I find it so calming to walk without talking to someone else and simply people watching along the way.
Other Saturdays, while easing into my weekend, I enjoy walking with Stella while listening to an audiobook or podcast which allows me to zone out and concentrate on the narrative without thinking too much or overanalyzing my past week.
Currently, I’m listening to [amazon_textlink asin=’0735217688′ text=’Home Fire’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’hermodernkitc-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’374c146e-fbd8-11e7-b66c-83ded4902b58′] by Kamila Shamsie – a novel about immigration, terrorism, and love all while shadowing the world’s current state of affairs. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a great read (or listen!).
One of my favorite parts of the walk is watching Stella smile at strangers on the trail. It’s like she’s pleading with them to stop and pet her.
When they see her walking towards them, it’s obvious they see Stella smiling at them and often smile back, some even say hello to her, while a few stop and ask to pet her. I’m pretty sure that’s her favorite part of the walk.
After our walk, I love venturing into downtown with Stella as we lazily make our way towards the Farmer’s Market at Republic Square Park. I find it relaxing, weaving in and out of all the people while sipping on a coffee, taking in the seasonal produce and exploring Austin’s local makers.
A must for easing into the weekend is treating myself a delectable pastry while at the market – making my way around the different vendors in search of a craveable treat. Although the downtown market has plenty of pastry vendors, I’m often drawn to Julie Myrtille’s Bakery over all others. Julie Myrtille’s baked goods are gorgeous to look at, the true definition of eye candy. And the taste, simply perfection.
Julie Myrtille is an award-winning Parisian chef who shares classic French pastries at the market – croissants, brioche, Cannelé de Bordeaux, meringues, madeleines…with rotating options each visit. And although I’ve never been to France, eating Julie’s baked goods instantly transports me to a quaint Parisian cafe.
Julie also makes salted caramel and jam to pair with her pastries. My favorite jam is the Strawberry Champagne — which found a home in my ‘fridge! It’s a small piece of Saturday I can enjoy later in the week.
If you haven’t visited Julie Myrtille’s Bakery at the market, I highly recommend you work it into your next Saturday outing. Grab a pastry or two to eat throughout the week. Like my jam, it’s your little bit of the weekend during the work week to remind you that you’re never more than 5 days away from Saturday.
Once I’ve settled on a baked good and savored every bite, Stella and I hop back in the car and head home — refreshed, calm, and ready to tackle the rest of our weekend ahead of us.
Do you have a weekend ritual that helps you ease into the rest of your day? I’d love to hear about your favorite ways to savor your weekend.