“They don’t make them like they used to,” goes the old saying. Luckily at Bonjour Bakery on 99 Street, they make it exactly like it used to be. Yvan Chartrand bought Tree Stone Bakery in 2009, and he and his wife decided to make bread the old fashioned way – the way bakers did it in France hundreds of years ago. “To me, that’s the only bread worth making,” he says. “When you work so many hours a day, if you don’t make a good product, then there’s not much pride to be had.”
Yvan has since changed the name to Bonjour Bakery and says his product is different from other bakeries because there are no additives or preservatives in his breads. Small bakeries have had trouble competing with the industrial bread industry, but Yvan says that has changed as people started putting a focus on good health and flavour. “Now people are willing to pay a little bit more for better quality. They realize that price is important but so is your health.”
Specializing in baking different assortments of breads, this award-winning bakery also sells special pastries like éclairs or cream puffs, from time to time. Boulangerie Bonjour Bakery boasts a business philosophy of respecting the planet and being honest with customers. Plus, the owners support the local food movement and honours traditional recipes.
Boulangerie Bonjour is a small bakery with a big history. Owner Yvan Chartrand opened his first bakery in Japan selling bagels. Then, he, along with his wife and children, moved to Edmonton, where they specialize in French sourdough bread. They use local ingredients and a three-day process while baking their bread. Fun fact: Ozzy Osbourne is a fan of Boulangerie Bonjour’s bread.
This spot makes everything fresh daily, and is best known for their sourdough bread, which is perfection. But when it comes to their croissants, they offer up upwards of half a dozen varieties daily and all are equally delicious. Try their petit pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant) for something decadent and delicious.