Already legendary for such venues as the Japanese-inspired Uni (nee Clio), the bullish tapas titan Toro, Italian icons Coppa and Faccia a Faccia, and the always ass-kicking Little Donkey, Ken Oringer recently took a sip from France and opened Verveine on Mass Ave in Cambridge, right near MIT.

Apparently, genius knows genius!

Speaking of genius, Oringer has asked his award-winning pastry chef Monica Glass (a Food Network’s Chopped Sweets Champion who also baked for Le Bernadin) to go in on the venture with him!

In addition to taking tastes from France, Verveine also culls cues from Oringer’s kissaten craze and sprinkles in a bit of Italy too for a menu that ranges from housemade pastries and breads that can be seen from the street to treats that have to be tasted to be believed.

Though the menu is subject to change as Ken and Monica strive to serve what their fans and friends want most, among the early faves are a chili biscuit and buckwheat crepe that can both get your day off to a great start and a salmon and lentil bowl that offers a protein pack in a very refined package. The menu also includes a folded pizza with mortadella, burrata, and shiso pesto, and such stellar sandwiches as the harissa-coated roasted veggie, chicken shwarma, the satisfying BEC (with maple pepper bacon, egg, and American cheese), and the honey tuna melt. 

Verveine also offers some of the tastiest tea and coffee drinks around, including Fieldstone Roaster’s finest, an iced strawberry milk matcha latte that combines delicious and nutritious, and pea flower lemonade that is a perfect summer treat.

For those who want to take even more of the fabulous flavor home, Verveine will also offer Monica’s proprietary flour blends known as WLDFLR™ that make so many of her creations impossible to replicate but fun to try!

I guess it’s not “just Ken” anymore! 😉