French Market Café and Gourmet Shop offers French and English fare with a southern twist

C’est La Vi

French Market Café and Gourmet Shop offers French and English fare with a Southern twist

ucked into the corner of Shops on the Green in Cornelius is a café unlike any other in Lake Norman. It’s a place where you can partake in a relaxed afternoon tea with a girlfriend or celebrate your birthday with a slice of carrot cake that people cross state lines to get their hands on. In this era of digital overload, it’s the rare spot that invites us to linger over conversation and enjoy the finer things in life.

When Kathy and Bob Montbleau opened the French Market Café and Gourmet Shop three years ago, they were already well-known for their other restaurants and shops: Les Trois Faisans and The Village Cupboard in Davidson, and Ain’t Too Shabby in Cornelius. A chef with decades of experience in Charlotte and Lake Norman, Bob Montbleau contributes his famous quiches, soups, and daily specials to the café’s seasonal menus. And then there is Chef Bob’s Famous Carrot Cake—a rich, dense, and lovely to behold creation with its own following.

As a Southerner who grew up celebrating the culinary traditions of her English and Scottish roots, Kathy Montbleau has curated a comprehensive seasonal tea menu featuring custom blends from Bruce Richardson, master blender with Elmwood Inn Fine Teas.

Kathy’s design talent shines at the French Market, with Provence-inspired French country decor. Kathy and her staff delight in dressing up the teahouse for

Top: Bob and Kathy Montbleau, center, are the owners of French Market Cafe and Gourmet Shop. Bottom: Bob Montbleau creates quiches, soups and daily specials for the cafe’s seasonal menus.

events like April in Paris and Derby Day. They are happy to accommodate special occasions and often rent out the space for milestone celebrations like surprise parties and baby showers. “We have wonderful staff members who love to dress up and entertain people,” says Kathy.

While coronavirus forced the café to close its seating area, Kathy and Bob have worked hard to keep serving fare that our community has come to love. They quickly pivoted and are now offering daily curbside entrees, soups, to-go tea parties and more. Search “French Market Cafe & Gourmet Shop” for the daily menu.

“I wanted to create a place where the art of conversation could be reborn,” says Kathy. The art of conversation, the art of high tea, and the art of the perfect slice of carrot cake—it’s all on display at the French Market Café.

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French Market Café 20920 Torrence Chapel Road Suite B-1, Cornelius 704.641.2201