Where Samantha Rush goes, sweet promise follows. The pastry chef and owner of Rush Patisserie brightened Deep Ellum with her shop, painting the storefront abandoned by Sweet Endings a delectable brown and serving authentic pain au chocolat, macaroons, and sparkly miniature cakes to customers herself behind the counter.
Rush, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, got folks chattering when she moved here from Vegas in 2006 to establish her business. Why would the raven-haired beauty have faith that the struggling downtown neighborhood could support her niche -- a luxurious menu of sweets connoisseurs claim is the most authentic French repertoire -- in the area?
The visibility and fans she accrued have helped Rush's catering and bakery business expand in North Dallas. Now the native New Yorker is moving her retail space to a neighborhood that's made good on the hype surrounding its revival: North Oak Cliff.
The people who live and work in the area surrounding the Bishop Arts district are a set that Rush told the Advocate she's excited to serve. Two integral parts of the Parisian bakery experience were missing from the Deep Ellum shop: the baguette, and the ability to walk home with one. Rush mentioned to the Dallas Morning News' EATS blog that she was inspired to include baguettes and other treats in the menu for the new shop, which is set to open sometime this month.
As for the pedestrian-friendly factor, Rush isn't responsible for the more easily traversable area her new digs reside in. But in choosing it, she paves the way for her patisserie to become a Dallas institution.
The new Rush Patisserie will inhabit 1201 El Dorado Ave. in Oak Cliff. Check back at NBCDFW.com in the coming weeks for information about the opening.
