What We Love NowLorette Brasserie

What We Love Now

Lorette Brasserie - French Flavours, Whistler Style

By Nikki Bayley | Images by Joern Rohde

Whistler’s culinary scene has a new star, and it's shining brightly for breakfast and dinner. Lorette Brasserie, the latest venture from Jay and James Paré’s restaurant group (joining sister restaurants Caramba and Quattro), has officially opened. On the menu is a fusion of classic French techniques with Québécois inspiration and Pacific Northwest ingredients. The gorgeous room, complete with details such as a hand-painted ceiling and enviable green subway-tiled kitchen walls, brings a wow factor to the Whistler dining scene.

Experience what we love this winter with some local Whistler favourites. Ski-down or take the short drive to visit Creekside Village and indulge in a treat of locally made gelato or sorbet, pick-and-mix candy, healthful smoothies, warming oatmeal bowls and Italian coffees at Confetti Gelato; fulfill your passion for patties at Splitz Grill on Main Street — the local’s favourite casual place with serious burgers, with fresh patties made daily and more than 40 homemade toppings; try some locally made gin or vodka from Whistler’s first local distillery Montis Distilling in Function Junction.

ames Paré, joint co-owner and co-CCEO, reveals the name “Lorette” holds sentimental value: “Jay came up with the name — my late mom, Lorenne, and my grandma — Jay’s mom — Loretta.” This personal touch resonates thoughtfully with the family portraits on the wall.

Lorette seamlessly transitions from breakfast and brunch by day to an elegant brasserie by night. Jay Paré shares their approach to breakfast, saying, “Elements, the restaurant that was here before, was well known for breakfast, so we wanted to honour that.”
They have even kept Elements’s signature potato tartlet on the new menu. The star for me is the ooey-gooey Croque Madame with crunchy sourdough from Vancouver’s Small Victory bakery, smoky shaved country ham, a buttery béchamel, and a hit of heat from Dijon mustard. Don’t skip the trip down memory lane with their twist on a mimosa: a Harvey Wallbanger!

Their evening menu is equally impressive, featuring classics such as salmon rillettes, a plate-lickingly wonderful beef cheek bourguignon, and crétons (“a few Québecers have given us the thumbs up!”). Highlighting their commitment to authenticity, the tourtière is served with Chef Shane Sluchinski’s grandmother’s ketchup recipe.

The cocktail program features on-tap Sazeracs and a divine frozen Vesper with lemon caviar pearls, as well as some new alpine-inspired creations.

Not just a new restaurant, Lorette is a labour of love with 20-year-old roots from when Jay and James Paré took over Caramba and dreamed of one day opening a French restaurant. As Jay Paré aptly puts it, “All of that has prepared us for the unknown of opening a new restaurant. It’s our first place from scratch so anything that goes right — or wrong — is on us!"

With their combined decades of front- and back-of-house experience and heartfelt dedication, we are confident it’s all going right, with Lorette Brasserie set to be a cherished favourite in Whistler’s culinary landscape.

lorettebrasserie.com | 604-962-1808