A local French bakery’s take on the COVID-19 pandemic

This pandemic has put many local businesses to the test, and there are few who lack a unique story regarding the challenges faced since its arrival last spring.

Cafe Soliel, a quaint French bakery and cafe located in the heart of St. Pete Beach is no exception to the list. And with its warm, inviting atmosphere, proximity to the sand, and forever lingering scent of fresh-baked croissants, what’s not to like?

Lauren Chezaud was born and raised in Paris before moving to the Florida coast and bringing a little bit of home along with her in 2013.

For anyone who has been to France, you can taste it in the food. A mouthwatering combination of house-made pastries, imported French cheeses, and local organic vegetables construct every dish.

The first dramatic change made at the cafe was its closure of the inside.

Guests were asked to wait at the door for a server to come out and take their order. Everything was strictly “to go” in order to lessen the crowds, however, there was still a limited amount of socially distanced outside seating available on the patio.

A major defect in this plan was the excessive waste created with the plastic and styrofoam packaging that was used. It also became an expensive endeavor.

“I felt like that was the best option for us at the beginning, but after a few months I knew I had to make a more environmentally friendly change,” Chezaud said.

It was a constant struggle between keeping everyone safe and cutting back on single-use waste.

Chezaud quickly began serving food on plates and coffee and mugs once again. This decision not only eliminated a substantial amount of unnecessary waste but also the high cost of material that was weighing her down in the early and financially bare months of the pandemic.

Sometime in late summer, the cafe opened its inside back up for a socially distanced, limited capacity, air-conditioned dining option. However, she was still hesitant to do so.

“Many of my customers are elderly, especially the regulars, so they had to be my top priority when it came to making decisions about safety,” Chezaud said.

She also explained that it is those regulars who have helped her out the most during the height of the pandemic this past year.

“Seeing those familiar faces, even under masks, reminded me of why I started this,” Chezaud said. “And it was through them that I saw so much generosity, even during this difficult time.”

Right now, it is her top priority to give back to her customers the same support they gave her throughout this pandemic.

“I have been coming to Cafe Soliel every Saturday morning for almost two years now. It was unfortunate when they had to close the inside for a few months, but that didn’t keep me from coming. Seeing the same faces every week was enough, said Kevin Walters, 67, a born-and-raised Floridian who now spends his retirement on St. Pete Beach.

Walters orders a skim milk latte and a warmed almond croissant every week.

“When we were completely closed inside I would see him walk up to the door and immediately start on his latte. It felt good to have regulars even then, and waving to him, even from the other side of the window felt like a small victory,” said Una Barnitz, one of the longest-standing employees at the cafe.

“The girls became a little family here this past year, and we work really hard to make our guests feel that way too,” said Chezaud.

“The girls” is how she refers to her all-female staff of baristas and chefs.

Since opening back up completely and combating the trials of the pandemic in new ways, the cafe has started to bring in many more customers than it did this time last year.

With new menu items on the rise and talk of a possible new second location to open up, Cafe Soliel is shining through the murk and unease of it all one latte, quiche, and chocolate croissant at a time.