Oak Cliff Openings

Baking entrepreneur finds sweet home in pie-friendly Oak Cliff

Kessler Pie Co., opening a shop in Oak Cliff, makes everything from scratch.

Photo courtesy of Kessler Pie Co.

It has become clear that, if you want pie, you'll head for Oak Cliff, where online pie shop Kessler Pie Co. is opening a storefront. The family-owned business has been selling pies for custom orders through its website, but now has a location in the former Roots & Culture gift store at 416 N. Tyler St., where it will open this spring.

Baker Armida Ortega is a native of San Diego, California, who has been baking since 1956, when she was 12. She turned her hobby of baking for family and friends into a business when she began selling her creations at parties, weddings, and catered events.

She bakes whole pies for about $35 to $40, but her cute gimmick consists of individual pies sold in little glass jars. Flavors range from apple to chocolate to coconut cream pie, and everything's made from scratch. Banana cream pie, for example, has fresh banana slices and a banana-infused cream filling, topped with whipped cream.

Armida's daughter Miriam Ortega says that the remodel is underway, and that they're excited to be on that end of Oak Cliff (unlike Emporium Pies, which is located in the more saturated Bishop Arts).

"Our space will be cute, but with a modern aesthetic," she says. "We love that little Tyler Square area, there are a lot of businesses opening, and we're enjoying meeting the new neighbors."

There'll be pies to take home or eat onsite. Kessler Pie Co. will serve coffee drinks and possibly even mimosas on the weekends.

"That's to go with our breakfast pie, which is one of our new savory flavors," she says. The breakfast pie will debut on April 10 at the Urban Bazaar in Oak Cliff, where eight flavors will be available from 12-8 pm.

While there are no guarantees on their opening date, Miriam says they're pushing for a magical deadline.

"We're shooting for Mother's Day, and we'll be happy if we can get open before then," she says. "We still do online orders, with free delivery if you're within a 50-mile radius. It's a lot, but it's important for us to keep doing that until we open."

openings

Escargot News

New all-day French bistro in downtown Rockwall is all from scratch

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Belle View Bistro Rockwall

An all-day French bistro has made its debut in Rockwall: Called Belle Vie Bistro, it’s a new mom-and-pop in the charming historic downtown district, at 112 E. Rusk St., the former home of The Fatted Calf restaurant, where it opened its doors on November 12.

Belle Vie is from Luis and Iliana Marquez, a hard-working couple who also own Los Marquez, a popular taco--themed food-truck-turned-restaurant in Rockwall they first debuted in 2019. In May, the couple took over the former Fat Chicken space to open a brick and mortar location of Los Marquez, where they serve well-made Mexican food like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, but also burgers & fries. They open for breakfast with breakfast tacos, and run a daily lunch special, often creative, always popular, such as birria ramen with choice of beef or lamb for $11.

But the couple had a bigger vision of creating a place where chef Luis could stretch and showcase his skills.

"Luis has a lot of culinary experience, and it’s something that he’s been putting aside,” Iliana says. “We were just waiting on the perfect time to bring this to life.”

"This is something exciting and new for us, it’s something that we always wanted to make,” Luis says.

Like Los Marquez, Belle Vie is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving classics like French onion soup, moules frites, escargot, and duck confit. There are also comforting and American dishes like spinach-artichoke dip, crab cakes, and fish & chips.

Lunch features Cobb salad, a French dip, and chicken & Brie panini, while an extended breakfast -- which runs from 7 am to 4 pm — includes pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, beignets French toast, and crepes, plus pastries and breads made from scratch.

Mural on the wall at Belle Vie Bistro RockwallFacebook

The bakery counter is a delight, with eclairs, croissants, scones, fruit tarts, and cake slices in flavors like carrot cake and white chocolate raspberry. There's also a serious coffee program with espresso drinks such as lattes.

"We pride ourselves on making everything from scratch," the duo says. "Our bread—whether for sandwiches, paninis, hamburgers or anything listed on our menu is made fresh just for us by our incredibly talented pastry chef and baker. The same care goes into our pastries and desserts ensuring every bite is special and crafted with love."

The dining room is warm and cozy with dark wood chairs and plush booths and a full-wall mural depicting a street in Paris. They also have a full bar, with cocktails and beer on tap. Prices are reasonable, ranging from $9 for a Belgian waffle during breakfast to $45 for prime ribeye at dinner.

For now, they're not taking reservations — it's first come, first serve.

openings