09/29/2024
Welcome croissant connoisseurs! Put the kettle on! This is no sound-bite. Dig in to discover real information about two real people making real pastry for real pastrylovers!
First, let’s re-introduce ourselves. We’re Lison and Pascal of PASCAL'S PATISSERIE - FINE FRENCH PASTRIES YOU BAKE in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada since September, 2020. As of this post, we’re celebrating 4 eventful years here! We are the only pastry shop we know of anywhere - completely devoted to the art of the family of French pastry called 'viennoiserie' especially its jewel in the crown, the classic croissant, to bake fresh at home. All handcrafted by Pascal, a classically trained French Pastry Chef from Toulouse, France celebrating 30 years this summer (2024) since earning his CAP, a professional French designation going back to 1911! But Pascal had to relearn everything he thought he knew about this simple but notoriously difficult dough to make well for his frozen model. Ongoing experimentation working with a squirrelly clean flour where he’s constantly playing with .05 grams of water, different kneading times and speeds, resting periods and more. This is not donuts, cupcakes or cookies, kids! It’s alchemy. Think sourdough on steroids. Stay tuned for more technical geeky stuff later! Including what the heck 'viennoiserie' is! Just know we are rebels, renegades, innovative and enterprising down to our toes! Who knows of a zero-waste food business? Who knows of a pastry shop where some celiacs can enjoy pastry? We are a unicorn crossed with Pegasus. Is our secret safe with you? Plus I can be a bit bossy because I know what it costs us to make our unique pastry and I’m not just talking financial so don’t mind me; I can’t help wanting everyone to experience just how magical our pastry is!
We were actually on Facebook years ago for Pascals.1.0 in Calgary. I was a social media maven then. But our FB account got duplicated by someone. I also spent 3 fun years on Twitter but signed off as I had more international followers than local. Fast forward to Pascals.2.0 which we opened here in Cochrane at the height of Covid September 2020. We were basically mobbed without advertising, announcements or any social media whatsoever. What does this mean? That nothing beats old school word of mouth. As it’s just the two of us - Pascal busy making pastries, me busy telling our story about them, we don’t have a lot of time to be on social media. Especially for us, it’s not about what something looks like but what it tastes like and we believe the whole multi-dimensional experience of our pastries appeals to more than just one sense. Also, I have this kind of counter-intuitive anti-marketing principle, that people are so saturated with so much noise about so much non-news, they tune out. People like to find hidden gems - they hunt for them. Why? Because I believe people have an internal hunger for mystery and beauty and those rare intangible qualities are irresistible to the spirit - and super hard to find. I say true treasure is worth the seeking, don’t you agree?
Secondly, we want to clarify that between Pascals.1.0 and 2.0, a few other Pascal’s Patisseries sprouted up in the world, one called Pascal’s Patisserie and Cafe in Los Angeles, USA (and another in Australia I think) who people seem to be following thinking they’re us! So we thought we’d get back in the pond and let you know that we’re us! We don’t have a cafe or bake cakes etc as most of you know our whole prime directive is Fine French Pastries You Bake. You do the baking and your home gets to have a fragrance of a French patisserie! People line up in Paris for their fresh pastries and you don’t have to! Plus your pastries are fresher than fresh ‘cos you baked ‘em yourself, right?
And last and very importantly, as many of you Cochranites know, the construction on First St East where we’re located (across from St. Andrew’s Church), that was ongoing (and offgoing!) for the last 2 summers was crazy-making!! Especially when we were told by PME the engineering company and town, that it was only going to be 1 month! Well, it wasn’t, was it?
We wanted to get back on FB to clarify us but mostly to give a HUGE shout-out to our Pascal’s Pastrylovers in Cochrane on FB who put out the word to come support us during our time of on again off again accessibility. We had no idea the force of nature you guys are! We want to sincerely thank each and every one of you! (This is the only way we know how as you’re a shy bunch and never share who you are when you come to buy pastries!) So, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support of Pascal and I. We will continue to strive to make our magic for you as long as we are able. A bit of a long post but we had some catching up to do! As our emphasis has always been on making exceptional pastry for you, we may not always be able to comment or answer but feel free to talk amongst yourselves about us now that you’re on the right page! Make no mistake - we are social! As anyone will tell you or you know yourself, I am happy to share our stories in person and answer any and all questions you may have about our French pastries, the importance and difference of our flour, our long fermentation process, why some celiacs can enjoy our pastries, etc. So come on down, say hi! We love your stories! We have so many of them along with our own to share. Thanks to all of you once again!
Know we'd love to chat with you here but are a genuinely artisanal micro-pastymaker with just the 2 of us. We are social so feel free to visit in real life! Also head to pascals.ca as there's lots more there. Including baking directions in case your dog eats them or they blow away in a strong wind. :) We may relaunch my blog (I made 50 posts 2011-2016!) and refresh our site and add a recipe page and/or news of other fun and frolic, etc. between pastrymaking and storytelling so check there now and then! Also note we no longer wholesale like we did in Calgary in order to maintain the quality and integrity of our 'brand'. As everything in the universe is subject to change, and if this does, it will be on our website. For now, our pastries are only available at our Cochrane atelier/boutique.
Thanks for your understanding. "See you" at breakfast! L&P
