In early February, Sarmentine Bakery’s Petaluma outpost rolled out a new crepe menu as authentically French as its croissants and financiers. Though there have been previous attempts at traditional Breton crepes in Sonoma County from the much-missed Bistro 29 and short-lived Creperie Chez Solange, none of them quite stuck. Hopefully, Sarmentine is about to change that.
The French-owned bakery has brought in a master crêpier trained at the International School for Crêpes in Saint-Malo, Brittany (which is actually a real place if you’re considering a career change). Using a traditional billig — a circular griddle designed specifically for crepe making — each thin pancake is prepared to order. The process takes a few minutes, so order a café au lait and relax.
Alongside familiar sweet options like chocolate-hazelnut and lemon curd, the expanded menu puts traditional buckwheat crepes from Brittany at the forefront. These savory, naturally gluten-free crepes have been made for centuries using buckwheat grown in northwest France. (Despite the name, buckwheat is not wheat, but a seed.)
In a county well stocked with French restaurants, bakeries and patisseries — places that reliably turn out soupe à l’oignon, batards and croque madames — a properly made Breton crepe has long been elusive. Sarmentine now offers one, four days a week.
Best bets
Complete ($16): A classic introduction to savory buckwheat, filled with ham, mild Emmentaler cheese and a sunny-side-up egg. Easy like Sunday morning.
Smoked Salmon ($20): Smoked salmon with lemon, dill and sour cream folded into a pale buckwheat crepe. Elegant, balanced and just right.
Savoyarde ($20): Raclette cheese takes center stage here — gooey, aromatic and unapologetically bold in the best possible way. It is paired with soft, smashed potatoes, generous ribbons of prosciutto and a dollop of sour cream.
Lemon Curd ($12): Sweet, tart and everything that’s so lovable about a light, chewy crepe. It will disappear before your eyes.
Chocolat ($13): Chocolate ganache is never wrong, on anything. Here, it’s a sweet-on-sweet vibe, simple and indulgent.
Poire Belle Hélène ($16): This one, with cinnamon-poached pears, chocolate, ice cream and whipped cream, is probably way over the top. But that’s OK.
Gluten-free crepes and a savory vegetarian option are available.
Served 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at the Petaluma location. 840 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, 707-623-9595, sarmentine.com