n the Land of Make-Believe, Måurice Luncheonette is on Main Street in a town where everyone’s got the day off, it’s always 72 and sunny, and bluebirds flutter outside every window. The all-white dining room has a few tiny booths, freshly picked flowers, and handwritten menus. It’s earnest, a bit precious, and crazy charming. But the truly insane part is that what I’m describing is the real Måurice—minus the birds and sunshine (this is still Portland).
The person responsible for the blissful café is pastry whiz Kristen Murray. She does savory very well, very simply, and very seasonally, but it’s her sweets (and, okay, the 30-plus kinds of vermouth on the rocks) that you’re really here for. Whatever Murray happens to be embedding in her French toast–like bostock that day or stuffing inside her sugary brioche rolls (bananas and chocolate!) make them musts. And I would happily eat her lemon-soufflé pudding cake for breakfast. Every. Single. Morning. All this from a guy who, nine times out of ten, orders whiskey for dessert. Yes, she’s that good.
Get the recipes for the Lemon Soufflé Pudding Cake and Fig & Walnut Bostock (both pictured above), plus: