Les Bonyeuses, talented bakers and pastry chefs
In regional Québec French, bonyennes and the Colocs’ bonyeu were already familiar expressions, but bonyeuses is something rather special. A bonyeuse is a playful, charismatic and lively person, valued for their presence, humour and personality.
Be that as it may, the word is now the name of a Baie-Saint-Paul bakery that has steadily won over customers since opening in 2022. It offers fresh bread, viennoiseries, house-made pizzas, speciality coffees, a gourmet food counter and local products.
At its heart, Les Bonyeuses, Boulange, café & terroir is the story of two dynamic and motivated women, Meggie and Emma. They joined forces in 2018 to take over the former À Chacun Son Pain bakeries in Baie-Saint-Paul and Beaupré. Four years later, they acquired the entire company and gave it a new identity. “It is a shared vision of cultivating happiness through freedom of expression and creativity,” explains general manager Meggie Tremblay.
Their path, however, was not predetermined. When she was younger, Meggie dreamed of opening a bar with her family. She and Emma, her business and life partner, gained experience in a range of fields before finding their way into baking.
Les Bonyeuses see Charlevoix’s culinary terroir as an inexhaustible source of expertise, and they proudly showcase local producers. The bakery takes pride in offering fresh breads made with ingredients from environmentally responsible agriculture, prepared by expert hands with love and enjoyment. To make it all happen, the company relies on a team of 28 people who carry out the various daily tasks from Tuesday to Sunday.
This busy little hive is a sight to behold in the spacious premises on boulevard Mgr de Laval, at the heart of a lively commercial district in Baie-Saint-Paul. Shortly before lunchtime, customers arrive for sandwiches or to collect orders just as the breakfast crowd is leaving. Behind the counter, the prominently visible oven fills with pizzas and other dishes at a frantic pace.
Terroir products, viennoiseries, brioches, croissants, fine pastries and a variety of breads made from 100% Québec flour fill the shelves and counters, ready to be enjoyed on the spot or taken away.
There is no denying that Les Bonyeuses have created a concept that pleases customers. They are living up well to their mission of delighting people in the region with freshness, variety and pleasure.
Unfortunately, the entrepreneurs had to close the Beaupré branch in 2024 and put it up for sale. The acquisition agreement, whose term has now ended, required the business to remain in operation for three years after the purchase. They now wish to devote themselves entirely to their Baie-Saint-Paul location.
Les Bonyeuses
lesbonyeuses.ca
1006, boul. Mgr de Laval,
Baie-Saint-Paul, QC G3Z 2W2