Fendu’s Flavorful Surprises

As its name suggests, Fendu Boulangerie offers delightful European-style pastries and breads, baked fresh every day. But with a range of American pastries, sandwiches and even pizza, there’s more to this charming bakery than meets the eye.

Owner and chef Niel Koep describes Lemon Merengue Pie ($5.25) as a classic American dessert that’s not often found in Hawaii. First, a mixture of freshly flavored lemon curd and sabayon fills an almond sugar pie crust. Then, sweet peaks of merengue are piped on and torched before candied lemon peel and green cacao butter garnishes are added to complete the light pastry.

Other unexpected decadences include warmly served sandwiches created by the eatery’s cooks. House-made rustic buns are grilled for 12 minutes to give a crispy outer layer to Chicken Pesto Panini ($8), filled with chicken tenderloin, homemade pesto (basil, macadamia nut and olive oil), Hamakua tomatoes, bacon, shallot and goat cheese gloriously melted together.

“That is one of our best-selling sandwiches. We put together different combinations of things and decided that this one worked the best,” describes Koep. With the distinctive sandwich’s depth of flavor, I’d take his word for it.

So the next time you fancy a French pastry, by all means, satisfy that craving. But leave room for the host of American goodies — both sweet and savory — that Fendu Boulangerie serves up.

Fendu Boulangerie