A 9-year-old girl wrote a five-star review of her local la Madeleine location for her school newspaper
NEED TO KNOW
The glowing remarks were seen by CEO John Dillon, who invited Katherine Peel, a third grader in Texas, and her family to help craft a kids' menu
"They had a custom apron ready for her, along with berets for her and her sisters, which they continue to wear at home," the child's dad tells PEOPLE
Bon appétit!
After a 9-year-old girl wrote a five-star review of a bakery for herschool newspaper, the establishment caught wind and invited her to help craft a newkids' menu.
Katherine Peel, a third grader in Texas, made glowing comments about her localla Madeleinelocation, which her dad, James Peel, later highlighted in aLinkedInpost.
"Katherine's school newspaper operates on a voluntary basis and has a restaurant review section. She took it upon herself to write about la Madeleine, but it wasn't an assignment," James tells PEOPLE exclusively.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
la Madeleine, headquartered in Dallas, has more than 80 locations across the United States, with spots in Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland and Oklahoma, to name a few.
John Dillon, CEO of the bakery and café chain, learned of Katherine's sweet review — which, among other things, praised la Madeleine's all-day breakfast options as "a crowd-pleaser" — when a friend sent him James' LinkedIn post.
"What struck me was how sincere it was. She was not just reacting to the food, she was describing what la Madeleine felt like to her," he tells PEOPLE.
"That stayed with me because la Madeleine has always been about more than the meal. It is about warmth, connection and those small moments people remember. Katherine captured that better than a lot of adults could," Dillon adds.
Advertisement
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
He and the la Madeleine team invited Katherine and her family to their local location, describing the move as what "felt like the natural next step."
"It gave us a chance to thank her and make the day special, ... and show her a little of what happens behind the scenes at a place she clearly loves," Dillon tells PEOPLE.
Katherine, joined by her sisters, was even tapped to help la Madeleine as the company further designs its kids' menu. "They had so much fun," dad James says. "All three girls loved getting hands-on experience, especially making their own fruit tarts with the cream and fresh toppings, as well as getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the café."
"One of Katherine's ideas was to introduce a stuffed croissant for children," he continues. "Her recommendations also included bringing back the chicken pesto pasta and adding a savory crepe."
According to James, "la Madeleine went above and beyond to make the experience special for Katherine and our entire family."
"They had a custom apron ready for her, along with berets for her and her sisters, which they continue to wear at home," he continues. "It meant a lot that the whole family could be part of it, and it turned into a really special bonding moment for the sisters while also celebrating Katherine."
Dillon, meanwhile, tells PEOPLE, "la Madeleine was founded just over 40 years ago with a simple idea: create a bakery café that feels warm, welcoming and a little different from the rush of everyday life. What makes this story so meaningful is that it is a reminder that hospitality still matters. People remember how a place made them feel."
He adds, "The fact that Katherine saw that and wrote about it so honestly on her own meant a great deal to all of us. This was a chance to celebrate her creativity, and also a chance to celebrate the role la Madeleine fills for our guests every day."
Read the original article onPeople
