If you’re a fan of authentic French baked delicacies, you’ll be happy to know about one of the newest bakeries in town: French Made Baking. Opened roughly three months ago in a small space close to Broadway and Main, bakery owners Catherine and David Introligator haven’t stopped creating their delights since.
The interior is all white, with a painted sky ceiling. Small shelves are filled with French books, an Eiffel Tower, and other whimsical items.
[Earl Grey and pistachio macarons]
For macaron fans, French Made Baking features between four and seven daily varieties. Their assortment typically includes pistachio, black currant, raspberry, jasmine, rose and lychee, Earl Grey, and passion fruit. French transplants Catherine and David will soon utilize summer fruits such as blueberries to create a seasonal selection of macarons that I’m sure will be well sought after!
Their products include croissants, quiches, Canelés de Bordeaux (small cakes flavoured with rum and vanilla, crunchy on the outside with a soft middle), madeleines, brioches, éclairs, tarts, galettes, and others.
When I visited earlier this week, David was in the kitchen, preparing the Canelés batter, with smells of butter and freshly-cut vanilla bean wafting out of the pot towards the front of the bakery.
I sampled chocolate croissants warm from the oven. Buttery on first taste, the chocolate chunks are soft but not thoroughly melted. The madeleines are flavourful and perfect for tea.
On the savoury side, I tried mini quiches and Gougères (cheese puffs made with Swiss cheese, a Burgundy speciality). Light and not salty, they’d pair well with either a Pinot noir or a crisp white wine, served either alone or alongside a salad.
French Made Baking will make the rounds this summer in various farmer’s markets. Trout Lake, Kitsilano, Main Street, and Ladner are confirmed so far, and dates are still being worked out.
[Opéra: Joconde (almond/rum sponge) cake, coffee, buttercream, chocolate ganache layers]
They’re located at 81 Kingsway right by the Broadway intersection, in Mount Pleasant. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 8 am to 6:30 pm, and Sundays 11 am to 4 pm (winter hours. Summer will see them at the aforementioned farmer’s markets).
[Ganache and lemon tart assortment]
[Passion fruit macarons being made]
If you’re interested in learning how to make macarons, the shop offers hands-on classes, held twice a month on Sundays (2:30 pm). The next available class will be on May 13 (with three spots left). On Sunday, April 15th, a puff pastry and croissant course will be offered, with future dates in the works.
Speciality coffees made with 49th Parallel Coffee beans, homemade hot chocolate and Parisian Kusmi teas round out the drink menu.