Les Vraies Richesses
A Sherbrooke bakery with a selection so big you need a game plan — and locals fiercely loyal to it.
My Take
When the border finally reopened after COVID, I made it a mission to track down the best bakery haul I could find. Walking into Les Vraies Richesses is a bit like being dropped into a pastry version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—there’s so much, you almost need a game plan. I left with more than I meant to, which is probably the right way to do it. The sheer variety is what sets this place apart. I wouldn’t claim the pastries are always the best in town, but the selection is hard to beat, and that matters. There’s even a running joke at our house now: once, I told a Canadian border agent I was heading to L’Atelier du Pain, and she gave me a stern look and insisted Les Vraies Richesses was better. She told me, with complete seriousness, to make two stops. That’s how strong the local opinions are.
Public Knowledge
Owner-baker Jean-Pierre Oddo started the bakery in Stanstead in 2013 and moved it to Sherbrooke in 2016, emphasizing natural ingredients and in-house milling; by mid-2024 its mill produced about 30% of its flour with Estrie grain growers (Détaillant Alimentaire). La Tribune's 2021 visit to the Rock Forest shop highlighted its in-store flour mill, croissants, and lunch menus (La Tribune). The third shop opened in July 2024 in the former Küto space on King Ouest, adding viennoiserie production and planned Sicilian-inspired baked goods and pizzas reflecting Oddo's roots (107.7 Estrie; 107.7 Estrie).
Details
Les Vraies Richesses · 819-933-7272 · vraiesrichesses.com
Centre-Ville: 242 Rue King O, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 1P9
Rock Forest: 11 Rue Léger, Sherbrooke, QC J1L 1X1
Jacques-Cartier: 1705 Rue King O, Sherbrooke, QC J1J 2C8