In the Beginning...

God created bread. But not just any bread. It wasn't until 1982 that La Baguette et L'Echalote was singlehandedly responsible for a Renaissance of Fine Artisan Breads in the city of Vancouver, Canada. In other words – we were the first. The groundbreaker. Co-owners Louise Turgeon and Mario Armitano put their heads together and decided Vancouver needed quality breads based upon one simple concept: give the people what they deserve in the way of healthy bread alternatives to high-fat, preservative-laden, sugar-saturated chain store breads.

Quality carries on another generation. Son Nico Armitano, brings the same commitment to providing the people of Vancouver with health-wise choices to enhance their lives.

In 1982 people were beginning to question what they were putting in their bodies. Health and Wellness had become the topics du jour. So Louise and Mario took a 1000-square foot aluminum-siding shack on Granville Island and fashioned it into an Artisan Bakery which would set the Gold Standard for similar ventures in Vancouver and throughout North America.

Today La Baguette & L'Echalote's Artisan Breads are sold in the finest grocery stores, restaurants and bistros in Vancouver and Whistler. We have expanded from breads to Artisan Cakes, Pastries and Chef-crafted take-home Prepared Meals such as Beef Bourguignon, Chicken Chasseur and Tiger Prawn French Curry. But it all began with bread. When you tear into a hot loaf of our Peasant Farmer Artisan Bread you will be tasting bread made from a 300 year-old Levain starter brought from a tiny country bakery in the South of France.

Everything old becomes new again and the chain of life is a circle. La Baguette & L'Echalote is proud to have contributed to the life of Vancouver, North America and the World. But most importantly, the Adventure continues...