Innovative French patisserie in Lake Country offers foodies something different
A pastry shop in Lake Country might be small in size, but the flavours, designs and colours of the unique treats it offers are big.
Beat. Patisserie is a French-inspired pastry shop owned by pastry chef Mackenzie Maunder who creates original treats using classic French techniques and flavours, and a lot of imagination.
“I love what I do, experimenting with new flavours and inventing creative takes on old favourites,” she said. “I bring some local, more familiar flavours as well.”
Treats are made from scratch with quality ingredients and the menu is seemingly endless with everything from buttery chocolate croissants to bright macarons to pecan whisky brownies. There are high end creations that change seasonally, like a The Earl, a three –dimensional teacup that looks like something from Alice in Wonderland and is entirely edible.
“Our high end lineup changes seasonally so there is always something new and different for people to come back and try,” Maunder said. “The Earl is a pastry we keep bringing back, every year it changes a little bit, I have fun elevating and changing it up.”
The Earl is made with silkroad London fog tea, an earl grey genoise and blackcurrant curd. It’s encased with a London fog mousse and sits on a base of an orange almond tea cookie.
Maunder grew up in Toronto around her parent’s gourmet food store and always knew she’d continue on in the food industry. When she was a teenager she worked in bakeries and later enrolled in a pastry arts university program in Toronto. She went to France to study at a Michelin Star restaurant, and fell in love with creating French desserts.
As part of the program, she designed a bakery business plan for Beat. Patisserie and held onto the dream of making it a reality.
“I worked my way around Toronto and France and did lots of schooling and training, there wasn’t any partying, it was a lot of work,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do it and was motivated.”
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The business has drawn in both local customers and foodies from across the Okanagan valley stopping by to try something different.
“I think Lake Country was looking for something new and innovative, we’ve had steady growth and lots of return customers,” Maunder said. “The regulars are almost like family, you get to know them.”
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Maunder said she is always working to come up with colours that are eye catching and flavours that are appealing. Along with the high end desserts, other fan favourites are the roasted pecan whisky brownies, lemon shortbread and tiramisu.
Lots of gluten free options are available along with a couple of savoury options.
Beat. Patisserie is open Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 101-11850 Oceola Road, Lake Country.
Go here for more information and to see the menu.
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