Bâtard Boulangerie et Café

Bâtard has several definitions:

1. It's a hybrid of different cultures and styles
2. It's also an oval loaf based on the baguette
3. A story by Jack London, and after spending three months in Yukon ourselves one winter...
4. And, it's unique individual of questionable parentage

In Vancouver however, Bâtard is a great boulangerie and café in Fraserhood.

Bâtard is a family business created by Chris Brown of Rise Artisan Bakery (he's the former owner on Ecco il Pane) and Bruno and Sally Born (and daughter Elsie Born) of Finest at Sea on Arbutus. Whatever the lineage, Bâtard is a fantastic bakery and more.

The building is over 100 years old and and some of the exterior features are original. On the inside, things have been opened up with the bakery and epicierie on one side, the café on the other. There are local products as well as some interesting European items too.

The pastries are excellent, with the croissants being the best in Vancouver.





















The sandwiches are wonderful, mainly because of the bread, but the ingredients are fresh and made-in-house, like the roasted chicken that went into this Chicken Club.

Coffee, as one might expect, is highly sufficient. There are better coffee shops in Vancouver, but this place is special because of the excellence of its bakery.

Bâtard is located on Fraser Street between East 23rd and 24th Avenue.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2016 by Jim Murray.

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