The owners behind the successful Toast and Tartine restaurants in the Greater New Orleans area are preparing to open a pastry focused shop in Gretna this spring.
While Toast and Tartine emphasize savory goodness, the upcoming Hen House at 938 Hancock St. will shift the focus of owners Cara and Evan Benson ever so slightly towards sweet treats. During King Cake season, the shop will transform into a full-on production facility for the seasonal treat, and switch back to a café after Mardi Gras. All that being said, the Hen House café will offer savory options, including sandwiches, soups, and salads. According to reports, the café and bakery will put in a massive effort to offer gluten-free products, but owners are currently contending with cross-contamination issues from gluten-containing products that would be made in the same vicinity, according to reports.
After meeting at the former French Culinary Institute in New York City, ​Cara and Evan Benson opened Tartine on Perrier Street in 2010. In 2014 they opened Toast on Laurel Street, which has since closed. In October 2016, they opened another Toast location on Gentilly Boulevard, and in 2018, they opened a third Toast location on Decatur Street. ​In 2023, the partners opened a Toast location on Hancock Street in Gretna.
