Papilles: A Playful Café with Conscious Cuisine in Boucherville

Papilles: A Fresh Breeze in Boucherville

A fresh new spot has arrived in Boucherville with the opening of Café Papilles! This charming café, which opened its doors on August 1, 2024, has already found a special place in the hearts of South Shore residents. With a brand carefully crafted by the Basalte agency and a captivating presence on social media, it’s no surprise that Papilles has quickly garnered excitement. Needless to say, we couldn’t wait to discover what this café has to offer!

Stepping inside, you’re greeted by a soft pink décor bathed in sunlight pouring through the large windows of the exterior façade. The welcoming atmosphere is enhanced by the presence of the talented chef-owners, Chloé Desruisseaux and Marie-Ève Lemieux, who are behind this delightful address. You may remember them from the much-loved but now-closed Ubora restaurant in Saint-Hubert. Having worked together in the restaurant industry for nearly a decade, including with the A5 Hospitality group, they decided to step away from fine dining to focus on the fundamentals with the Papilles Café-Cuisine project. Affectionately called “Pap” by regulars, the café offers delicious ready-to-eat meals made in-house, emphasizing local producers and traceable, ethically sourced, high-quality ingredients.

Both owners, who grew up on the South Shore, share that the Papilles project brought together many long-time friends, from photographers (Drowster and Mathilde Langevin) to their general contractor, and even their families. Their entire circle pitched in to bring this vision to life. Papilles is designed as a space for sharing and connection, playful and unpretentious. Chloé and Marie-Ève aspire to share their passion for cooking by welcoming guests with the same warmth as if they were inviting them into their home.

Coffee, Bread, and Much More

For their coffee, Chloé and Marie-Ève partnered with Marc-Alex, master roaster at 94 Celcius in Sainte-Julie. They serve specialty coffee sourced from Colombia and Brazil, grown and harvested by women entrepreneurs who collaborate directly with the roaster. This ethical approach not only ensures high-quality beans but also helps improve the living conditions of these women. At just the right temperature, Papilles’ coffee reveals notes of dark chocolate, almond, and brown sugar—offering a perfect introduction to third-wave specialty coffee. It’s a must to grab a bag for home!

The bread and pastries are provided by Automne Boulangerie, a beloved address known for the exceptional quality of its products. We opted for the croissant, which is beautifully served here with a kale and parmesan salad, a soft-boiled egg, and herb mayonnaise. The egg is perfectly runny, and we’re still thinking about it! Make sure to try this version while it’s on the menu, as the chefs plan to surprise you with new interpretations based on their inspirations.

We had heard great things about the chipotle pasta salad, and it more than lived up to the hype! The pasta is homemade by Bruno, who runs the fine grocery store across from the Lionel-Daunais Public Market, where Chloé and Marie-Ève go daily to select fresh, seasonal products. This time, it was radiatore pasta, perfectly spiced with chipotle sauce and accompanied by feta, corn, crunchy celery, and pickled onions. No wonder it has quickly become a menu favorite!

A Big Crush on the Instagrammable Matcha Latte

We absolutely fell in love with the Instagrammable matcha latte—enhanced with a homemade strawberry and raspberry puree—as well as the sparkling lemonade made with seasonal raspberries, both prepared with market-fresh fruits. They’re simply delicious, and we can’t wait for their next creation!

We also couldn’t resist trying the homemade “Pap’sicle”—a strawberry lemonade featured on the kids’ menu—and we have to say, it’s sure to melt the hearts of adults too!

Finally, we left with a bag full of pastries for those with a sweet tooth. “Chloé’s zucchini cake should never run out,” Marie-Ève told us.

During our visit, the kitchen was bustling as preparations were underway for the next catering service—yes, Papilles also offers lunch boxes and take-home meal kits. The “Pap à la maison” and “Pap au bureau” services are already available, and Chloé and Marie-Ève’s highly successful home chef service will soon return with creative, custom menus for discerning foodies!

Papilles is not just a café; it has become a gathering place for everyone who has contributed to this venture—a true headquarters for friends, collaborators, and families who witnessed its birth. With the rigor and passion they bring to making this location a place that celebrates product quality, along with their commitment to promoting local artisans and the new energy they’re injecting into the neighborhood, Papilles is undeniably a must-visit stop in Boucherville!

Happy exploring!