A former backpacker who came to Noosa on holiday has returned as a cafe owner.
Annabel Pincede has opened Cafe La Vie En Rose opposite the water on Gympie Terrace, Noosaville.
“La vie en rose” translates to “life in pink”, meaning looking at life through rose-coloured glasses or a positive lens.
A famous song for Edith Piaf, La Vie En Rose was about seeing the happiness and beauty of life while in love, which is how Annabel felt when she came to Noosa 10 years ago as a backpacker.
“I fell in love with Noosa,” she said.
French-born Annabel went on to spend about eight years in the Noosa area. A chef by trade, she worked at the popular Zachary’s while in the area.
She managed a cafe during a spell in Melbourne to accommodate her husband’s work but, after three years, she was keen to return to Noosa.
Opening during in a cost-of-living crisis while juggling a 20-month-old would seem a brave move but she was in no doubt about what she wanted to do.
“I love hospitality. I love to work with customers and to make them happy,” she said.
La Vie En Rose focuses on French cuisine.
“I want to share with local people,” Annabel said. “We have French crepes, we have French galettes, gluten-free,” she said.
The menu also includes classics such as salmon tartare, duck confit and charcuterie with French cheese.
The cafe serves its own coffee blend, made in Cooroy. Annabel expects to be selling the beans for the Rose blend in about a fortnight.
“It’s a bit like European-style. It’s a bit sweet and rich in flavour but you can drink a long black and don’t have the bitterness,” she said.
La Vie En Rose has attracted a following in its first four weeks.
“We have repeat customers, which is very good. A couple came in four times this week and another lady came in three times,” Annabel said.
The cafe seats 48 and is staffed by six, including Annabel, who is training another chef in the finer points of crepes and galettes.
Unlike some other cafes, it offers table service.
“It’s not very common for cafes in Australia but we are not only a cafe,” she said.
La Vie En Rose is open from 7am to 3pm daily except Mondays, and Annabel plans to open for dinner once the weather warms up.
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