A few coworkers and I decided to celebrate a belated birthday by making a lunch excursion to Thomas Haas Patisserie in North Vancouver. It was highly anticipated by the birthday girl and it was the first time there for all of us. And what a gem it was!
It was bustling and overwhelming to the senses. We walked in and my eyes were exposed to chocolate upon chocolate, pastry upon pastry, cake upon cake (some of which looked like they only existed in dreams), and a selection of tempting panini. Thank Zeus for Oli, who often suggests sharing our meals, because we were able to sample the tomato & bocconcini panino as well as the prosciutto & roasted asparagus one. The servers were kind and attentive, taking our names and orders down on erasable laminate order sheets. They grilled the panini and after a 5-minute wait or so (it takes awhile to get used to everyone else's food coming before yours) they called our names to pick them up. There wasn't much seating but the five of us found some space on a bar facing the window, and Oli and my seats were facing a table of three men dining as well. This made it difficult to not inhale my food down like the hungry pig that I was, and as I ate my flaky chocolate croissant (or pain au chocolat), I knew for a fact that I must have looked feral. Oh well, it was worth it.
Both panini were delicious and quite filling. The tomato & bocconcini one even had yellow tomato slices--a rarity! I was so full from my lunch and dessert that I did not have the heart to order more. But some of my coworkers ordered some beautifully packaged chocolates with flavours that were impossible to choose between, even for Oli who isn't a chocolate lover. Later on, I got to try the balsamic honey one and it was divine. I also had a bite of an almond croissant and it was amazing.
Clearly, I cannot say enough about how great this place is. And Thomas Haas himself was there chatting to the customers, cleaning up tables, wiping down the counter, and helping an elderly lady with her purchases to the taxi. It's nice to see an owner, especially one of such renown, doing these things because it means he hasn't built himself as the top of a hierarchy. (He's also quite easy on the eyes, though not as much as Alcide from True Blood *drools*).
Mmmm, Alcide.
So if you're in North Vancouver and craving a satisfying lunch and other-worldly pastries/desserts, you know where to go. There's also a location on West Broadway in Kitsilano that sells macarons (RaeRae!) and sweets, but no panini.
Next time I go to either location, I am definitely ordering a cup of steaming hot chocolate, a few pastries, and a box of chocolates. I can't wait.
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