FARGO — When someone tucks into Nichole Hensen’s Chocolate Feuilletine Cake, they may enjoy the layers of mousse, hazelnut crunch, cake and glaze without necessarily understanding all the work involved in making it.

Likewise, Hensen’s much-lauded business, Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Cafe, contains many more layers of complexity, planning and hard work than the average patron there might suspect.

Especially since Hensen took on a major renovation that has tripled her space to 10,500 square feet, expanded liquor service beyond beer and wine, added table service, folded in a dinner menu and opened a high-end imported/local foods market to her business at 13 8th St. S. in Fargo.

So even though Hensen’s sales have risen consistently each year and her bakery has a James Beard nomination unde

See Full Page