Floriole Cafe and Walk Along Lincoln Park

After my friend sent me this link last week, I immediately looked through what hidden Chicago gems I can explore this weekend. Floriole Cafe & Bakery caught my eye - hmm, fresh, flaky, and french... definitely a departure from our usual heavy, food-coma-waiting-to-happen American breakfasts.  So we went this morning, bright and early, wearing our cold weather gear.  The place is very casual (and not snobbish at all, haha) and self-service.  Of course, as I mentioned "flaky" (typical of french breads/pastries), we ordered a galette, croissant, and baguette sandwich.  Everything was deliriously delicious!  The flakiness, the creamy baked egg, the freshly-baked taste, the perfectly frothed milk in our mocha and latte... happiness.

Asparagus and Goat Cheese Galette

Chocolate & Almond Cream Croissant, my hubby enjoying his Mocha, and Bacon, Baked Egg & Cheese on Baguette with Oranges and Grapefruit

In front of the shop and my Latte (darn, I have to learn that)!

And so we after a satisfying breakfast, we continued our walk in this Lincoln Park Area... might as well burn down the carbs and explore some more with our trusty p&s...

So many local/independently-run shops, I love it.  We also bought some cupcakes from Sweet Mandy B's (one of the shops with the pastel canopies).

Train tracks (somehow misplaced in this bunch, but I took this on our way to Floriole, so... I like it)

St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church

A Salon Door,  Jewelry Shop, and De Paul University with Monsignor John Egan Statue

So I did start with a peak this weekend. :-)