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...ba href=/sleep/a/b here if I didn't have a family to go home to," said Briens, owner of the cafe, which opened last summer.

"I love it."Family is obviously very important to Briens, who chose to open her cafe June 21 to commemorate her grandfather, who died on that day in 1989.Along the golden walls, Briens' own photos are displayed.

One is of Mont St.

Michel monastery when the tide is out and a herd of sheep graze on the fertile land below; another is of the medieval fortress of Rocmanadour in the Dordogne region of southeastern France.

Two big prints behind the pastry case feature 3-year-old Logan, the son of Briens and her husband, John Chambers, seated next to his little cousin.

Others showcase Isabelle's father-in-law, Stan Chambers, a longtime Los Angeles newscaster.A native of Versailles, France, Briens came to work at her cousin Eric Briens' Del Mar French Pastry Cafe 11 years ago before he sold the successful enterprise in 2002.

The cousins still keep in close contact, and Eric Briens, who now owns the Carlsbad French Pastry Cafe in Carlsbad Village, has given his cousin all his recipes for croissants and breakfast pastries.

The French baguettes are provided daily by Jean Claude Scudellaro, a local French baker.On the menu is a full selection of breakfast pastries including croissants, muffins, biscotti, Danishes and apple turnovers, just to name a few.

Also listed are a choice of omelettes, French toast, salads, quiche and salads.

Briens' most popular breakfast entree is the Mon...

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