What does Sablétine mean?

This is probably one of the most asked questions we get here at Sablétine.  Many people think it is a play on the word “Sable”, which in french, is a general term for “a sandy butter cookie”, but that is just mere coincidence.  Sablétine, is named after a small village in France, Sablet, that I spent some time in a few years ago.  I guess this is where it all began.  When I mention that I was in France, most people think that I was there to further my cooking education-well, that is true, the real reason I was there, was to bike.  You see, my nut of a brother Jake was an avid cyclist and had always dreamt of riding the great “tour de france” climbs, so, considering he was on paternity leave, he packed us all up and Sablet was where we landed.  Most days were spent climbing Mt Ventoux (now a pastry at the shop), taste testing croissants, more biking, researching local pastry shops and lots of dreaming about opening up a pastry shop and that is where the idea of Sablétine began.

Sablet, France

Typical Sablet breakfast.

It took many more months after that and countless discussions around the dinner table until Sablétine became a reality.

In the Spring of 2007, renovations began on what is now a pastry shop.  Most of the work we did ourselves.  I remember getting in there the first day and thinking, it wouldn’t be long until I was baking-just a little paint here and there and we’d be open in no time.  Needless to say, it wasn’t until the Fall of 2007 that I would open.

I will never forget the time I spent in Sablet for many reasons, one of which will always be where the reality of opening up a little French pastry shop in Waterloo began.