Kylie Drunasky | Student Life Editor
January 17, 2026
The Chaupain bakery located on Del Mar is known for its French pastries and artisan breads that are freshly baked in-house daily. With the growing bakery’s popularity rising, it was decided to expand the Del Mar location. Renovation began on October 13th and was completed on December 14th. This expansion includes more seating outdoors to enhance the customer experience, which has increased business for the family-owned bakery. A new crepe station has also been added as well as a larger display case for breads and pastries. The menu has been upgraded with the addition of new beverages and retails.
The Chaupain bakery was established in 2018 and founded by husband and wife, Sam and Sarah Ellouze. With Sarah Ellouze just finished with getting her Masters from UCLA and Sam Ellouze working at a CPA farm, they realized that these paths were not for them. They took the sudden idea to open a bakery even with little baking experience. This idea flourished, with the first bakery opening in Laguna Hills following with the addition of three other locations; Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, and the San Clemente location which opened in 2021. They are not stopping there, with a new spot opening soon at John Wayne Airport. Chaupain’s bakery goods can also be found at Famer’s Markets across California, including the local market on Del Mar on Sunday from 9am-1pm.
Junior Audrey Fernandez stated that she likes “the quality of the fresh pastries” and always feels welcomed by “the nice workers there.” Some popular favorites are the pistachio croissant, chocolate almond croissant, and cinnamon twists. According to one of the bakery workers and store manager, the cinnamon cream cheese is a true winner amongst regulars and one of their favorites as well. Manager Angus Greene described it as “a hybrid between a cinnamon twist and a cream cheese danish. The buttery, flaky sides of the danish are folded in to create a center pocket filled with cream cheese and cinnamon.” The bakery’s menu also includes yogurts, quiches, coffee, and other fresh treats and meals.
Chaupain bakery adds to the bright and welcoming atmosphere of downtown San Clemente and is even more inviting now with the additional seating inside and out. The staff is very friendly, greeting each customer with a smile and ready to assist them. When asked what he liked best about working at Chaupain, Greene stated, “probably talking to all the different people.”
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