Intel on Kristen Murray's 'Pastry Luncheonette,' Maurice

Last week, word broke that pastry chef Kristen D. Murray's long-stewing brick-and-mortar project was off the ground, and now, major details are filtering in for MÅURICE, which Murray tells Eater "will bridge the gap between pastry shop, bakery, and diner." The 580-square-foot cafe space, which takes over the SW Oak storefront recently vacated by the Reading Frenzy bookstore, "will be light and airy, with an open kitchen and mostly counter seating," Murray says — featuring Italian marble for the countertop bar and diner-style banquettes.

On the pastry side, MÅURICE's day-into-evening menu will feature everything from breakfast-time "approachable pastries" (cookies, duck fat galettes, brioche, english muffins) to "thoughtfully constructed desserts" in the evenings (among Murray's new kitchen toys is a gelato machine). For savory eaters, Murray promises a menu that showcases "the art of pastry technique applied to savory and sweet dishes" — including lefse wraps, grapefruit and tarragon kissed gravlax, poulet au pain, eggs en cocotte, and composed salads.

MÅURICE's projected opening is this fall; in the meantime, Murray has launched an ambitious Kickstarter campaign for the project, seeking $40,000 in funds. In the video, Murray describes the project as "focusing on the culture and lifestyle" of pastry, "letting the cuisine hone in on pastry techniques, rather than a true celebration of sugar and fat." Updates as they become available.
· Meet Maurice: A Pastry Luncheonette [Kickstarter]
· All Previous Kristen Murray Coverage [Eater PDX]