Besh Group's Willa Jean Will Change New Orleans' Bakery Game on August 6

Willa Jean, the Besh Group bakery and cafe from pastry chefs Kelly Fields and Lisa White, will open on Thursday, August 6, in the budding South Market District, Todd Price reports this week. The highly-anticipated dream bakery—named for Fields' grandmother—joins newly-opened ticketed restaurant Ursa Major and upcoming expansions Magasin Kitchen and Company Burger 2 inside The Paramount (611 O'Keefe Avenue).

The bakery will turn out a selection of breads— 'from cornbread to brioche,' White says— and incredible pastries and sweets including homemade ice cream, cookies, cobblers, and cinnamon rolls. A coffee program will feature Intelligentsia, and a cocktail program will feature boozy coffee drinks and slushies.  Even more exciting Willa Jean will have a strong line up of breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and even snack fare done with a Southern twist. Behold the beauty:

In the morning, you can order grilled figs with goat cheese on ciabatta, a fried chicken biscuit with jalapeño relish, or two eggs with grits, potatoes and bacon. A "snack" menu includes grilled okra, pimento cheese and country ham with homemade crackers, and pigs in a blanket made with croissant dough and andouille sausage.

The lunch and dinner menus focus on sandwiches, tartines, and hot plates.  The 80-seater has been designed by Curtis Herring (also of Shaya, Johnny Sanchez, and Pizza Domenica design fame), so do expect it to be a stunner, right down to the Uneeda Biscuit mural, Edison bulbs, and exposed brick. Hours will be Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Saturday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.