Get crepes, bubble waffles and ice cream at this new shop at Swansea food truck campus

Jennifer Green
·4 min read

The last piece of the Soulcial Kitchen campus is in place, according to founder and owner John Michel.

Michel told me during an interview in February that he planned to open an ice cream parlor on the west end of the campus.

That project, Holy Crepes!, is the latest business established at the Swansea food truck park and is open for business.

Michel said that he decided to focus more on crepes than on ice cream. His reasoning is that there are other ice cream places in the area but no crepes.

Located at 1718 Helen St., Holy Crepes! offers a variety of crepes, ice creams, shakes, coffee and bubble waffles.

What are bubble waffles? I asked the same question.

It’s a kind of egg waffle, made with a waffle-batter base, that I think looks like giant bubble wrap.

At Holy Crepes!, they take that bubble waffle and load it up with ice cream, cookies, fruit and other tasty sweet stuff.

They look amazing!

Holy Crepes! at 1718 Helen St. in Swansea serves bubble waffles with different ice cream and cookie flavors.
Holy Crepes! at 1718 Helen St. in Swansea serves bubble waffles with different ice cream and cookie flavors.

The menu currently offers:

Crepes:

  • The North Star - Nutella, with optional bananas or strawberries;

  • The Three Wise Men - choice of gourmet preserves - strawberry, raspberry or blueberry bourbon pecan;

  • The Carpenter - Biscoff cookie butter spread, with optional bananas or strawberries;

  • The Trinity - Nutella, coconut and almonds;

  • Sweet Crepe of the Day;

  • The Last Supper - ham and cheese crepes infused with the house secret sauce;

  • Savory of the Day.

Ice Cream:

  • The Holy Grail - large bubble waffle with two scoops of ice cream;

  • Ice cream by the ounce.

Also available are shakes; coffee including The Good Samaritan, chilled coffee with coffee ice cream, whipped cream and mocha drizzle; and the Croque Glace, a sweet brioche bun pressed with choice of ice cream and raspberry or chocolate drizzle.

Michel said the Croque Glace is made with a special press that seals the ice cream sandwich, keeping it hot on the outside and cold on the inside.

Crepes and shakes are on the menu at Holy Crepes! in Swansea.
Crepes and shakes are on the menu at Holy Crepes! in Swansea.

Getting started and planning ahead

Michel said they are in their soft opening phase right now, starting with window-service ordering only.

Once the staff perfects the fundamentals, becoming comfortable and consistent with the operation, walk-in service will be added.

Inside the shop customers will see other available goodies.

Michel said they have 14 flavors of ice cream from the Ice Cream Factory.

He also mentioned a partnership with Patty’s Cheesecakes, which can currently be found at City Foundry in St. Louis.

And more items will be added to the menu as the shop gets its footing, according to general manager Aliyah Almasri

Almasri, who also goes by Ameena, is the baker at Holy Crepes!

She started baking in 2019 during the pandemic. As a home baker, she posted photos of her confectionery creations on social media, which is how Michel found her.

She said she received a message with a proposal for a new business opportunity and met with Michel to present her ideas.

Then the real test, the taste test, took place.

Almasri provided many samples to Michel, his wife and business partner Holly Michel, and the staff on the Soulcial Kitchen campus.

She made eight styles of crepes, homemade ice creams, cake pops, and cookies.

Holly Michel and the restaurant employees loved everything, according to Almasri, and took home what was left.

Almasri’s excitement about this new business is obvious. I could see in her face how happy she is being able to create different sweets.

While Almasri has her own crepes recipes, Holy Crepes! is currently using a Michel family recipe, according to John Michel.

Almasri already has ideas and recipes ready to go when Holy Crepes! takes its next steps.

There was talk of waffle sticks, donut sticks and more homemade Middle Eastern ice creams, including a vegan pistachio ice cream.

Almasri said having this opportunity, and being able to work with a lot of great people, is “a dream come true.”

In speaking with both Michel and Almasri, I learned there’s a lot more to Holy Crepes!, as well as the rest of the Soulcial Kitchen family, and its mission.

But that’s a great story for another day, so stay tuned.

Holy Crepes! at 1718 Helen St. in Swansea is part of the Soulcial Kitchen campus.
Holy Crepes! at 1718 Helen St. in Swansea is part of the Soulcial Kitchen campus.

About Holy Crepes!

Holy Crepes! is located at 1718 Helen St. in Swansea.

Hours are currently 3-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 3-10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.