Advertorial — Authentic French Bakery Opens its Doors in Nelson

by Sarah Lord on Monday July 10 2023

For Lisa Lopez and Cyrielle Lagadec taking the dive and opening the L&C French Bakery in Nelson, BC, is a dream come true.

The two, a couple in business and love, are excited to embark on this new adventure. L&C French Bakery is all about bringing the most authentic flavours of France to the Nelson community and has proudly opened in its newly acquired premises.

Over the last year, L&C have been bringing their pastries and confections to the Nelson’s Farmers Market, so many residents are already familiar with their unique delicacies. The Bakery offers a uniquely satisfying experience for customers.

“Our desserts are super intricate, they are entremets, which is a multi-layered mousse-based cake with various complementary flavours and varying textural contrasts,” Lopez explains.

“Cyrielle has so much skill. She was born, raised and trained in Paris, and has fifteen (15) years of experience. She can really do anything. Everything in the shop is made from scratch by her.”

Their desserts are truly unique in Nelson.

“Everything is made from scratch, and our number one goal right now is to make croissants. We make all kinds of little Frenchy things you can’t find around town. Our macarons are also fabulous. They’re just perfect,” says Lopez.

Lopez describes one such dessert:

“We have a chocolate lover dessert which consists of a chocolate dome resting on a chocolate almond biscuit. Inside that dessert you will be surprised by a soft salted caramel. And then it’s covered with dark chocolate ganache topped with a chocolate feather decoration brushed with edible gold. It’s all really intricate. This one is even vegan and gluten-free.”

Lopez and Lagadec are creating a café experience that stands apart as they are dedicated to quality and authenticity, which for them means using the finest ingredients.

“We hope that when our customers are eating and drinking on our patio, they will feel for just a second that they are sitting on a café patio in France,” says Lopez.

Lopez takes care of the front of the house and operations, while Lagadec oversees the kitchen activities. Lopez and Lagadec have just hired a few staff members and are ready to roll for the summer season.

There are a few other factors that make L&C French Bakery stand apart. For one, the business is open consistently from Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — closed Sunday and Monday. They have a coffee shop-style menu with sandwiches, salads, and a breakfast menu.

“We are so excited to be the new owners. We are offering a new, fresh experience to our customers, and we will have consistent hours of operation,” says Lopez.

Customers can enjoy their treats or meal on the patio, and the Bakery is fully licenced so customers can have a glass of wine or beer with their lunch or in the afternoon. The Bakery is also conveniently located within walking distance from Lakeside Park, with free onsite parking. They don’t make bread, and get their bread from the Kootenay bakery for their carefully crafted sandwiches.

Lopez says L&C is a great place to come for breakfast.

“We make our scones, and then we load them with mascarpone cream and jam. This is one lovely breakfast item that we have.”

Lopez’s business-owning journey began with an entrepreneurship program offered by Kootenay Career Development and Community Futures Central Kootenay.

“We both worked at the Adventure Hotel, and we were looking to do our own thing so I did the entrepreneurship program," Lopez said.

"When I finished that we started selling at the market. It’s both our first time running a business.”

Lagadec had been renting the former AM Radio Café’s kitchen, where she started to get a reputation locally for her mastery of pastry, chocolate and baking.

Lagadec has worked in some of the finest establishments in Paris and around the world, including Michelin-starred restaurants. She trained with renowned pastry chefs, allowing her to excel in her craft and deliver exceptional culinary creations.

Lopez says she always knew she wanted to open a bakery.

“Since a very young age, I knew my calling was to open a bakery, little did I know it was going to be in Canada. Therefore, all my work experience and education relate to this very business.”

Holding a bachelor’s degree in international hotel management, Lopez has held management positions at esteemed establishments like the Fairmont Château Whistler. She brings strong abilities in multitasking, bookkeeping, food photography, to coffee making, to her new role. She recently got her Canadian citizenship after living here for seven years, and Lagadec has been here for almost five and also looking to get citizenship.

Lopez explains how they found Nelson, where they have lived for the last nearly two years.

“We were living in Whistler. We wanted to land somewhere with more of a community vibe, so we took a road trip, and Nelson felt super welcoming and open which is a big thing for a queer couple. It’s true that Nelson is just amazing. We want to be here long-term.”

And there are many reasons why the couple loves living in Nelson.

“Cyrielle and I really love going to the mountains to snowboard in the winter. That was one of the reasons why we loved Nelson right away. It was a really great surprise. In the summer hiking, hanging out at the lakes. We really like to eat and would go to all the restaurants around town.”

At L&C French Bakery, customers can expect a delightful selection of freshly baked French-inspired goods, desserts, lunch and breakfast. The business will still be serving local roaster NO6 Coffee.

Located at 711 Radio Avenue, Nelson, L&C French Bakery offers a warm and inviting atmosphere where patrons can experience a taste of France in the heart of the friendly Fairview neighbourhood.

For now, you can still find Lopez and Lagadec at the Nelson Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.

Lopez says she and Lagadec were blown away by the support they have received.

“The community has been so good to us, so welcoming and supportive. It’s really fantastic and was quite a surprise for us. The support that we have received has been incredible, and to live in a community that helps each other, it’s been a beautiful journey. I don’t think I would want to do it anywhere else. I feel like it was all meant to be, the way everything happened.”

Find their website here.

Or connect with them on Facebook here, or on Instagram here.

At L&C French Bakery, customers can expect a delightful selection of freshly baked French-inspired goods, desserts, lunch and breakfast.