When Dior opened its new café within its boutique in Highland Park Village, Dallas, it knew exactly what it was doing. Interestingly, research suggests that shopping while hungry can influence purchasing behavior, hunger not only increases the likelihood of buying high-calorie foods but can also lead to the acquisition of non-food items. Now, add to this the magic of Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn, who is leading the café’s culinary vision, and Dior has a double triumph at hand.
Thanks to the brilliance of the Franco-American chef, the menu draws inspiration from haute couture silhouettes spanning different eras. Starters, main courses, and desserts echo the colors, materials, and textures of Dior’s most iconic pieces. Devoted Dior fans will find delight in dishes inspired by legendary designs such as the Miss Dior spring-summer 1949 line and the 1953 Pamplemousse dress. “The beauty in the way they let their designers express themselves to tell their story, that’s what attracted me to them,” Crenn shared. “They wanted to work with us and tell the Dior story through the Dominique Crenn eye.”
Moving from inspiration to indulgence, the menu itself is a gastronomic runway. Starters include the Miss Dior Consommé, a delicate chicken broth, and the May Hamachi, a crudo with citrus and chilis. The main courses offer exquisite selections such as Marbella Prawns, Tuna Violette, Salmon Barbizon, and La Colle Noire Chicken, ensuring satisfaction for even the most refined palate. Pastry Chef Contreras also deserves applause for desserts like Manuela’s Rose, a raspberry-pistachio creation, and Jasmine Glacé, a honey and baby peach delight.
One of the earliest Dior cafés to captivate both fashion and food enthusiasts was Café Dior in Seoul, South Korea, which opened in 2015. Now, exactly a decade later, Dior brings a taste of Paris to Dallas with Café Dior by Dominique Crenn, a perfect blend of couture and cuisine.
The Woman Behind the Wonder
Dynamic Dominique Crenn moved from France to the United States in the 1980s. However, she rose to fame after opening Atelier Crenn in San Francisco in 2011, soon followed by Bar Crenn, a wine bar that earned its own Michelin star, and Petit Crenn. Atelier Crenn became a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, and at 53, Crenn, a mother of twin girls, made history as the first female chef to receive three Michelin stars for her restaurant. A cancer survivor and an evident lover of gray trucker caps, Crenn is also a passionate advocate for sustainable development and responsible gastronomy. True to her philosophy, she owns a farm in Sonoma, where she practices what she preaches.
On the future of gastronomy, she reflected, “The restaurant industry is never going to be the same again… and in many ways, that’s a good thing. People are learning to create dishes that comfort others. Creating beautiful works of art on the plate is wonderful, but right now, people need something that feeds their soul.”
