Heavenly Crescents

If there's any compelling reason to wake up before 9 am in Princeton, it's to snag one of the Little Chef's croissants fresh out of the oven. They're so warm that if you're too impatient, the piping hot raspberry ones ($2.50) might burn your tongue as the jam oozes out. I prefer a little less jam in my croissants, but it's really hard to complain about the Little Chef's creations. The outside of each croissant has the ideal quality of flakiness that crackles as you bite it; the inside is a buttery pillow that melts in your mouth. The chocolate and almond ones ($3) are perfect; absolutely nothing could be done to make them better--except perhaps combining the two flavors. Luckily, the coffee is just as delicious and can keep you going for the rest of the morning. Later in the day, you'll probably find yourself dreaming about the salty, sweet taste of the pastry, wishing that the Little Chef's case was still full with breakfast treats. You might even think about getting up early again tomorrow. [AUM]

The Little Chef Pastry Shop, 8 S Tulane St., Princeton, NJ