Business Details
39 Years
experience
Your Trusted Bakery & Caf in La Jolla Since 1987
Girard Gourmet has been a cornerstone of La Jolla's culinary scene for over 30 years, rooted in a tradition of European baking and a commitment to fresh, organic ingredients. Founded by Francois and Diana Goedhuys, our bakery-caf combines decades of expertise with a passion for healthy, honest food. Our menu features handcrafted pastries, sandwiches, and salads made daily using produce from our organic garden in Julian, CA. We specialize in custom catering services for business and social events across San Diego County, ensuring every occasion is memorable with our attention to detail and quality.Our team prioritizes sustainability through kitchen scrap recycling and sourcing ingredients locally whenever possible. As active members of the La Jolla community, we strive to create a welcoming environment for residents, visitors, and organizations alike. With our roots in Belgian pastry traditions and a focus on innovation, we continuously evolve to meet our customers' expectations while maintaining our core values of freshness, quality, and service excellence. Our dedication to excellence has made us a trusted choice for both casual dining and event catering since 1987.
Services
Bakery Items
Catering Services
Sandwiches
Salads
Desserts
Hot Entrees
Beverages
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Specials
Event Catering
Details
- Year established: 1987
Highlights and features
- We offer over 30 years of experience in European-style baking and catering.
- Our organic produce comes directly from our farm in Julian, CA.
- We provide custom catering menus tailored to your event's specific needs.
- Our team includes European-trained pastry chefs with decades of expertise.
- We prioritize sustainability through kitchen recycling and local sourcing.
What people say
Fresh organic ingredients
Exceptional catering service
Authentic European pastries
Knowledgeable staff
Beautiful event presentations
Services
Catering Services
Our catering division creates custom menus for corporate meetings, weddings, and social events across San Diego County. We specialize in breakfast buffets, plated lunches, and elegant dinner parties using fresh, organic ingredients. Our team handles every detail from menu design to on-site service, ensuring your event exceeds expectations with gourmet dishes and professional execution.
Bakery Items
Daily-baked artisan breads, croissants, and desserts reflect our European heritage and commitment to quality. Signature items include almond croissants, eight-grain loaves, and custom-designed cookies. All baked goods use organic flour and locally sourced ingredients, combining traditional techniques with modern health-conscious preferences for breakfast and take-home enjoyment.
Sandwiches
Handcrafted sandwiches feature premium meats, cheeses, and house-made condiments on freshly baked bread. Options range from classic BLTs to gourmet creations like grilled eggplant with pesto and smoked salmon on bagels. Available as full or half portions with customizable extras, our sandwiches cater to both quick meals and catering platters for groups.
Salads
Seasonal salads combine organic greens with innovative flavor combinations and high-quality proteins. Popular choices include pear cambazola with toasted pecans, Greek salad with feta cheese, and build-your-own options with house-made dressings. Served as main courses or side dishes, our salads emphasize freshness and nutritional balance for health-conscious diners.
Hot Entrees
Daily hot specials feature international cuisine influences and family-style comfort dishes. Rotating options include beef burgundy with rice, lamb stew, and salmon penne pasta. Prepared using organic ingredients and traditional cooking methods, these entrees showcase our culinary expertise while offering hearty meal solutions for lunch and dinner service.
People
Francois Goedhuys
Owner & Executive Chef
Francois trained in Belgian pastry schools and worked in Europe before establishing Girard Gourmet in 1987. His European baking expertise and commitment to organic ingredients form the foundation of our culinary approach.
Diana Goedhuys
Co-Owner & Operations Director
Diana partners with Francois to manage daily operations and community relations. Her leadership ensures our service standards align with our founding principles of quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.
Questions
Does Girard Gourmet offer catering services for private events?
Yes, we provide full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings across San Diego County with customizable menus.
Are your baked goods made fresh daily?
All pastries, breads, and desserts are baked fresh daily using organic ingredients and traditional European techniques.
Do you use locally sourced ingredients?
We prioritize local sourcing, including produce from our own organic garden in Julian, CA for many menu items.
What dietary options are available?
We offer vegetarian, gluten-conscious, and protein-enhanced options across our menu, with detailed ingredient information available upon request.
Can I order custom-designed cookies or cakes?
Yes, we create custom-designed cookies and specialty cakes for events, with options for dietary preferences and personalized decorations.
What are your operating hours?
We're open daily from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM for breakfast, lunch, and catering consultations.
Reviews (6)
Andrew N.
Jun 10, 2022
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I was passing through La Jolla recently and had to stop at Girard. I used to summer in town with my grandparents, and this place brough back a lot of great memories from childhood. I hadn't been in years, and was not disappointed. Iced cookies remain as memorable and delicious as I remembered. Had to bring a box back to LA for the family.
Glory T.
Jun 07, 2022
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How can a sandwich be this crazy delicious? I stopped by today and picked up the turkey & avocado sandwich. The service here is not fast food, I'm not saying they're slow, they are just bombarded with a lot of clients and they still take the time to provide quality food and customer service. There's something so nostalgic about coming here. I remember coming here as a child and always liking the food.
However now that I'm an adult I am in love with the food. I purchased a sandwich togo and I wanted to take a picture of it but already almost devoured the whole thing lol so a pic will have to be taken next time. Honestly I don't understand though cuz it's just a sandwich but it is such a good sandwich. I mean it's so delicious I had to stop in the middle of eating and write a review it's that good. Big shout out to Girard Gourmet. There's a reason this restaurant's been around for many many years! Great job!
However now that I'm an adult I am in love with the food. I purchased a sandwich togo and I wanted to take a picture of it but already almost devoured the whole thing lol so a pic will have to be taken next time. Honestly I don't understand though cuz it's just a sandwich but it is such a good sandwich. I mean it's so delicious I had to stop in the middle of eating and write a review it's that good. Big shout out to Girard Gourmet. There's a reason this restaurant's been around for many many years! Great job!
Tatiana F.
May 26, 2022
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Great taste. Busy place. Apple pie was excellent, almond croissant just perfect - not too sweet, not greasy like many places, cookies above expectations. coffee for the price of the place could be better, but we were there for cookies, so it was great. the staff is so warm and professional and with the love for cooking and customers.
Cindy Harrison
May 21, 2022
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Stopped in for a snack. The place was adorable and so much variety. Seemed like a family run place or at least they treated each other that way. The line was cramped and very long due to the design of the store but somehow they manage to keep the line moving really well weaving in and out of each other finding ways to help customers, organized chaos so to speak. I got a apple streusel and it was amazing. my daughter got a cranberry muffin and her and I both tried it and it didn't have much flavor but the texture and moisture were good. I would go back but maybe not the cranberry muffin. Sorry Girard
Hannah T.
May 21, 2022
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Every time I come here I have the most amazing experience. All of the employees are so nice and generous. The food is always delicious and tasty. 11/10 recommend!
Fi W.
May 18, 2022
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Great customer service and great food! We had questions regarding what muffins flavors were there and what was in the quiches. The worker explained the options nicely and thoroughly. The customer service was amazing! We ordered an orange muffin, cowboy quiche, and a cup of coffee. We sat outside and the food tasted so good. The orange muffin was flavorful and moist. The cowboy quiche was warm, filling, and filled with lots of goodies.
