Yann Haute Patisserie

Is it any surprise that one of the best places to purchase macarons is at the home of a Parisian pastry chef? Yann Haute Patisserie is located in “that little yellow house” in the Mission district. Like the macarons for sale within, this petite maison features three compact layers. The basement holds a commercial kitchen, while the upper floor houses chef Yann Blanchard and family.

On the main floor, the patisserie features a rainbow array of macarons, custom cakes, croissants, beignets and more. Living upstairs while working downstairs is a typical entrepreneurial arrangement in France and practical for the Blanchards. In fact, Yann grew up there in just such a home. Following in his father’s footsteps, he trained as a pastry chef, but had no plans to go into business. He landed a job in a Calgary bakery where he met his wife-to-be, Jeraldine, also from France. He also changed his mind about launching his own business. “I saw the potential and the opportunities in this town,” he says. “It’s also safe and close to the mountains; there’s a future here for my family.”