Volume 13 Issue 1 » 99
L ’ O P E R A PAT I S S E R I E
L’Opéra Pâtisserie is the perfect example
of what it means to be a hidden gem.
Sitting in the cozy French bakery, owner
Janice Marta tells us the numerous stories
of people calling in for help with directions, baffled by where it’s actually located.
If you’re not careful, it’s easy to walk or
drive right past the small, unassuming
bakery right under the Marriott Hotel in
Richmond.
Despite its presence being almost invisible to passersby, there’s hardly ever a quiet
moment at L’Opéra Pâtisserie. Most of
those who have managed to discover the
delightful bakery become regulars, largely
for a beautiful selection of French pastries
and macarons, all made in-house by
Marta herself. A trip to Paris many years
ago sealed her love affair and obsession
with French pastries. Upon returning to
Vancouver, she decided to take up the task
of creating her own perfect croissant. What
started off as a hobby became orders after
orders for pastries and wedding cakes from
friends and family, and eventually L’Opéra
Pâtisserie became a reality.
In addition to the impressive assortment
of cakes and pastries for take-out, L’Opéra
offers a generous afternoon tea menu. Each
tea set starts off with a cream of asparagus soup with puff pastry, followed by a
three-tiered stand served with a selection
of savoury items and sweets. Items on the
savoury menu are butter-rich, and incorporate novel ingredients such as lobster
and liver pâté that one wouldn’t normally
expect at afternoon tea. The cakes on the
tier are definitely the sweet highlight, and
will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Photos by Morgan Davies
Afternoon tea bookings are offered daily at
L’Opéra Pâtisserie with very limited seating, so reservations are recommended at
least 24 hours in advance.
L’Opéra Pâtisserie
5951 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond
(604) 270-2919
facebook.com/loperapatisserie