We already love Parable Coffee, one of the best coffee shops in downtown Columbus, and we’ve just been given one more reason to make it a regular stop. Pastry chef Aaron Clouse, who’s worked in several restaurants around Columbus and made multiple appearances on the Food Network, was just hired to head up their new baking program!
Parable is superb all on its own, a beautiful space full of greenery and natural light, with an interesting and expert coffee menu.
But now you get to enjoy your coffee with a growing roster of sweet and savory pastries. While Aaron hasn’t fully launched the new menu, if you arrive early enough (they often sell out by 9:30 a.m., he says), you can see what he’s working on. Here are a few highlights he shared with us!
First off, a classic ham and cheese croissant.
The croissant is beautifully layered and flaky, with diced ham, gruyere, and herbs evenly sprinkled throughout.
This creme brulee cookie mimics the popular dessert with a molasses base, cream cheese interior, and a caramelized top that cracks.
The “fancy French toast,” as Aaron describes it, features a poached apricot and generous dusting of powdered sugar, plus more surprises underneath!
If you follow Aaron or Parable on Instagram, you’ve probably seen these show-stopping circular croissants.
First up, the chocolate Nutella features a rich ganache with a twinge of orange inside, chocolately topping, hazelnuts, and candied orange.
The yuzu meringue pie draws on the lemon-like flavors of the yuzu and tops them with a toasted marshmallow cream.
With the sugary crust, it really brought back memories of the lemon bars I’ve had since I was a kid.
Aaron is still shaping the menu, so expect updates and changes before a full grand opening of the pastry program. But what we’ve tasted so far is a real treat. We often mourn the lack of coffee shops in Columbus with really sophisticated pastry programs (although we have some great options!), so we’re excited to see more of this in our city.
Find Parable Coffee at 149 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215.
Read more: Parable Coffee’s New Downtown Space
Exploring downtown? Read about The Best Coffee Shops in Downtown Columbus
