When walking around downtown Pensacola, the influence of our European predecessors is easily recognizable in the street names and architectural style of the buildings in the area. Landmarks that come to mind are the Christ Church at the corner of Palafox and Wright, streets like Romana and Zaragossa, and Seville Quarter.

There is another familiar place, with a new name, that has provided locals with an authentic European bakery experience for almost 20 years.

Reverie Bakery Café, located in the Jefferson Street building, creates homemade European breads, pastries and cuisine every single day.

In the morning, you can enjoy one of their homemade croissants, omelets or breakfast paninis and a cup of gourmet coffee. The lunch menu includes a variety of tasty sandwiches on crispy French bread, quiches, soups, salads and daily lunch specials.

In addition to meals, the bakery also offers a delicious variety desert pastries, including truffles, cakes and tarts.

"At any given time, we have 12 or more different pastries available," said Angela Johnson, owner. "I can actually make about 45 different types."

Reverie offers a delicious assortment of homemade truffles (above). If it's not in the store, they'll make it for you. Reverie takes pre-orders for almost any scrumptious holiday treat you can dream up.

"I love the holiday season because I can really start getting creative," Johnson said. "If you want it, and you pre-order it, I can make it."

The breads at Reverie are so revered that local restaurants and grocers have them delivered fresh each morning. Reverie also delivers lunch between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., so it's a great way to get some good food if you're stuck in the office.

Johnson apprenticed for the owners of the original Napoleon Bakery, where she learned the recipes and techniques required operate a French bakery from the three French Nationals.

"I worked here with the original owners for five-and-a-half years," Johnson said. "I had planned on taking over when they were leaving to go back to France, but I just wasn't able to at that time."

That was in 2002. Wolfgang and Wanda Pitzmann ultimately purchased the bakery and reopened it as Pitzmann's European Bakery in March 2003.

A fateful experience landed Johnson at the bakery in 2007, on the exact day the Pitzmanns were closing.

"I literally walked in on the day they were going to close and within four hours I was the new owner," Johnson explained.

For a little more than a year, Johnson and her staff of seven have been producing high quality, authentic European baked goods, and she says they do it for one reason.

"You really have to love what you do to make it in here at 2 a.m. to begin the baking," Johnson said of her bakers. "The process of folding and baking our croissants takes about two days to complete."

The name "Reverie" itself is an indication of the pride Johnson takes in running her bakery.

"It was always a dream of mine to own this place," Johnson said. "Reverie is the French word for daydream, and it's very symbolic of how I feel. I'm awake, but I'm living in my dream everyday."

Located at 101 S. Jefferson St., Suite E Pensacola, FL, Reverie is open for breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday. (850) 432-6026

Book your holiday reservations and orders now.