Chef Jean-Jacques “JJ” Grossi was trained as a chef in France before coming to Utah in 1977.
He spent the next few decades working in pastry stores, butcher shops and delis around the Salt Lake Valley. He and his father opened Bakers de Normandie in 1982.
His latest endeavor is Délice Bakery and Cafe, which opened in November and serves a menu inspired by the southern France, where Grossi’s love for creating food and sweets was born.
(Brodi Ashton | For The Salt Lake Tribune) Chef Jean-Jacques “JJ” Grossi is the co-owner of Délice Bakery and Cafe.
He owns the new café with veteran pastry chef Masoud Abbasi and Akbar Matinkhah, the latter of whom met Grossi in 1977 playing soccer. They’ve been friends ever since. Once they decided to form a partnership, they found a location, gutted it and remodeled it.
“We wanted to create an inviting atmosphere," Grossi says, “with a French bakery and cafe feel.”
In addition to countless cakes, cookies, tarts and other pastries, the cafe’s breakfast menu includes French toast, oatmeal and croissant sandwiches. The lunch menu includes soup, salads, panini and deli sandwiches. Everything on the menu is less than $10.
Popular items include the rustic Italian panini, chicken pesto and the Reuben sandwich.
Customers also can find classic French dishes like the Croque Monsieur, ratatouille and quiche.
Délicé Bakery and Cafe • 2747 S. State St., South Salt Lake; 801-953-1910 or www.delicebakeryslc.com/. Open Monday through Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
(Brodi Ashton | For The Salt Lake Tribune) The glass case at Délice Bakery & Cafe in South Salt Lake is filled with cakes, cookies, tarts and other pastries.