The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Pure Bread in Whistler, BC

BCbreadbaker's picture
BCbreadbaker

Pure Bread in Whistler, BC

Pure Bread is an amazing bakery! They have a big selection of sourdough, pastries, tarts, and other treats. My personal favourite is their veggie sausage roll. Sometimes eating it is just as fun as the day of skiing preceding it :) 

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Have you been to any of the Pure Breads in Vancouver? How does it compare? 

Pre-COVID I worked a block from the Gastown Pure Bread. The breads were... passable.

The treats were OK but ridiculously oversized. There pretty much wasn't a single thing that I didn't think "At most I could eat half that." It looks great on the counter in everyone's Instagram feed, but it was pretty impractical for office workers if you didn't split it with another co-worker or two.

Also, I was disappointed that they didn't really do Viennoiserie, the things in the case were quick breads, cakes, cookies, and meringues. My impression was one or two items that had puff pastry used frozen premade puff pastry rather than anything they made there. 

They did have Stumptown Coffee, which as an ex-Portlander I really enjoyed. 

It has been two years at least since I've been there though, so their offerings may have changed.

BCbreadbaker's picture
BCbreadbaker

I've never actually been to the locations in Vancouver, but I know they are opening up one this year in Squamish where I live, so very excited! 

Bummer the treats in Vancouver weren't that awesome. The ones in Whistler are definitely oversized, but I usually have them after a long day of skiing and biking so I don't mind! 

What are some of your favorite bakeries in Vancouver? I haven't spent that much time there despite living so close so would love to get a good bread spot recc for next time I'm there. 

Floydm's picture
Floydm

Yeah that context is key. I could totally imagine loving their huge treats when you're burning a million calories skiing or hiking or mountain biking. When you have a desk job and are going to be sedentary for the next 8 hours? It's too much.

I live near UBC, which puts me at the very west edge of Vancouver. I don't get over to Commercial Drive or Fraser or further east very often, nor to the North Shore, so there are a number of bakeries that I've heard great things about that I just don't get to regularly. So my list will be extremely incomplete.

Dough Girls is the closest to me. They make a fantastic baguette. Honestly nothing has reduced my baking as much as having a bakery like that so close to home. I visit them at least two or three times a week.

Beyond Bread in Kits makes really good sourdough loaves. Their miche is awesome. 

Terra Bread has a bunch of outlets and is carried in a bunch of grocery stores. Nevertheless some of their breads are really good. I'm a big fan of their Heritage Sourdough.

Siegel's Bagels or Rosemary Rocksalt for Montreal bagels.

In Kerrisdale near 41st there are about a half dozen bakeries. St Germain is probably my favourite there. They have a number of outlets in Richmond too. They have a number of outlets in Richmond too.

BCbreadbaker's picture
BCbreadbaker

Thanks so much for the suggestions, that is great. I think I'm sold on Dough Girls-that is going to be on my list next time I am out near UBC. :) 

Another good one in Whistler to check out if you are ever there is called Bred. It is fairly new I believe and located in Creekside Village. They mostly sell sourdough loaves, and then have a couple other really excellent items, my favourite being this sourdough galette with butternut squash and caramelized onions.