Emily Doyle of Wilmette makes a purchase at St. Roger Abby Patisserie. She is taken care of by Sister Marie Clotilde (left) and Sister Myriam of Nazareth.
Photography by George Pfoertner/JWC Media
WILMETTE – North Shore residents no longer have to wait for the Wilmette French Market on Saturdays to buy delicious baked goods from St. Roger Abbey French Patisserie: The popular organic French bakery run by nuns has opened a bakery cafe in downtown Wilmette.
Painted a bright, warm yellow inside with a sign saying “Bless this home and all who enter,” the bakery features all of the homemade baked goods people have come to enjoy at the French Market, plus an assortment of coffee drinks, teas and cold beverages. Tables both inside and outside the store invite visitors to linger and enjoy traditional French pastries.
Sister Mary Valerie estimated that St. Roger Abbey has been selling at the farmer’s market for over 10 years. She said Wilmette has always been a welcoming community, and they decided to open a bakery in the village after a customer encouraged them to consider the vacant storefront located at 1101 Central Avenue, formerly the home of Heavenly Hearth Bakery.
“We have such a good relationship with our customers,” Sister Valerie said. “They are very respectful.”
Fraternite Notre Dame was started in 1977 by Bishop Jean Marie Kozik with the mission to serve the poor not only in the Chicago area, but around the world. Sister Valerie said all of the proceeds from the bakery, French Market and their shop in Vernon Hills — support their humanitarian work. The religious order has a soup kitchen at its church on Chicago’s West Side, as well as a food pantry. Sister Valerie said the nuns regularly visit prisons, hospitals and elderly people in their homes.
“The customers learn where the money is going so they like to spend their money here,” Sister Valerie said.
Sister Valerie estimated there are about 60 nuns, mostly from France, in the order. Relying on their own experience growing up in France, the nuns have developed recipes for cakes, pies, cookies and croissants — a full assortment of traditional French pastries — that they’ve refined over time. “When we started making macarons it was not easy in the beginning,” Sister Valerie said.
All of the baking is done in a commercial kitchen in the western suburbs and delivered fresh to the Wilmette bakery. The entire operation has a wholesome feel to it, right down to the organic ingredients. “It’s very important to people’s health,” Sister Valerie remarked.
Sister Valerie said the most popular item is the macaron, which is offered in an assortment of flavors such as strawberry, pistachio, cappuccino and coconut-apricot. The bakery also sells a few savory items, such as ham and cheese crepes, a variety of quiches and pizzas.
The new bakery has been open for about one month and seems to be staying busy. “So far people have been very nice coming here,” Sister Valerie said.
St. Roger Abbey French Patisserie is open Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more go to www.strogerabbey.org.
Sister Marie Terese (left) Sister Marie Clotilde (middle) and Sister Myriam of Nazareth (right) are ready to take your order at the counter of St. Roger Abby Patisserie in Wilmette.
Photography by George Pfoertner
