Visitors to Vancouver's Granville Island now have a refreshed spot for picking up coffee, baked goods, and other casual fare.
The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICAchef) has remodeled their on-site sibling restaurant and café to feature a bright, updated, and open cafe space with a new menu to match.
Called the Blue Hat Bakery-Café, the space has long welcomed guests for delicious baked goods and sweets, as well as coffee, prepared by PICAchef students, instructors, and alumni.
The French-inspired bakery-café is now in roomier digs, having taken some space from the existing Blue Hat Bistro restaurant's prior bar section. Seating is available for dine-in, with False Creek views to boot, both inside the cafe or on the patio, however you can still pick up items to take-away.
French-trained and long-time PICAchef faculty member Christian Lai Chun serves as Lead Pastry Chef, and is joined by PICAchef's Chef Natasha Norton and Chef Julien Salomoni as the trio behind Blue Hat's new menu.
The menu is seasonally-inspired, so as summer continues you can expect to see lots of gorgeous treats showcasing beautiful B.C. blueberries and cherries, for example. The bakery creates French pastries and cakes, and breads, along with baked goods that are vegan or gluten-free. You can also purchase breakfast items (like breakfast sandwiches), soups, sandwiches, bowls, salads, and more. Look for daily student-created features right from the classroom kitchens, too.
Blue Hat has also expanded their food options to include fresh and frozen grab-and-go prepared meals as well as basics for your home fridge or pantry.
Guests can make use of nine free first-come, first-served parking spaces in the adjacent parkade at 1515 West Second Avenue.
Blue Hat Bakery-Café is located at 1505 West Second Avenue, and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
