Spring is in the air and so is the smell of authentic French pastries at Olympia’s Left Bank Pastry — where delicate sweet treats are showcased like exquisite pieces of art that taste just as fine.
What started as a wholesale bakery well over a decade ago by pastry chef and owner Gary Potter and wife Rochelle, has seen a couple iterations before landing on the current retail-only space in 2022.
Stepping through the door feels like stepping into a traditional French pâtisserie where Potter and his team use hundred-year-old techniques to craft layer after layer of rich, flaky goodness.
From flavorful croissants to artfully executed standouts like Kouign Amann (pronounced queen-a-mahn) in all its buttery, caramelized-sugar-outer-crust glory, it’s a level of detail not often found and a taste even rarer.
Carefully displayed like gems in their cases are shelf after shelf of delectable tarts, cookies, and pound cakes. A wide range of soft, chewy macaron flavors can be found daily, and even a selection of doughnuts. Look for seasonal macarons and confections like Bûche de Noël available for pre-order during the holidays.
Sweet or savory, choose from a list of croissants chock full of things like ham and cheese, turkey and pesto, or delightfully decadent chocolate, almond, fresh apricot, and raspberry, to name a few. A satisfying array of custardy, cheesy, and meaty quiches also are on the menu.
What isn’t on the menu, whether you’ve visited Paris, or not — is the feeling of being transported to some quaint, narrow Left Bank alleyway sipping café au lait and daintily devouring petit fours — except you haven’t left the confines of Olympia.
Stop by Wednesday through Friday, 7am-6pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 6pm and experience Left Bank Pastry for yourself.
EMILY MOLINA
For Additional Information
Left Bank Pastry
19414 4th Ave E, Olympia
leftbankpastry.com