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It’s taken some time, keeping those of us with a sweet tooth impatiently waiting, but Thierry  is officially open.

Thierry is the much anticipated chocolaterie/patisserie/café named after Thierry Busset, the French chef who made Vancouver his home and brought his classic pastry-making skills with him.

If you’ve dined at CinCin or West, you’ve probably sampled Thierry’s creations already. He led the pastry programs at both acclaimed Vancouver restaurants where he won accolades like this one from Vancouver magazine that declared Thierry “widely regarded as one of North America’s finest pastry chefs.”

His new location on Alberni Street in downtown Vancouver is stylish and airy with curved palmwood walls, chocolate-swirl marble floors and the iconic 1859 Thonet bentwood chairs reminiscent of a Parisian café – or a Picasso painting.

Stop by for a mid-morning organic coffee and buttery croissant or – after you’ve shopped ‘til you’ve dropped – enjoy a pick-me-up with one of Thierry’s signature colourful macarons. 

After dinner, a dessert and a drink on the patio – Thierry is fully licensed – sounds uplifting. The wine list extends to the Okanagan and beyond. Did you know that zinfandels and merlots pair nicely with chocolate?

Visiting Thierry will be instructive as well as restorative. Personally, I can’t wait to try Thierry’s velvety Liquid Chocolate with a hint of hazelnut. On a rainy west coast day, I can’t think of anything better.