Bakeries and Pâtisseries in the [Greater Toronto Area], 2024 Edition

Spurred on by Kare’s rec about the kouign-amann, we sampled from Tasso today. You place an online order on Thursdays (earlier in the day, as they tend to sell out) and then pick up on Saturdays 10:30-12:30. The pastry is excellent, moist and light inside and paper-thin, shatter-y layers on the surfaces. We tried four:

Montreal beef (right) - peppery smoked meat inside the pastry.
Smoked ham and aged cheddar croissant (left) - thinly sliced ham, sharp cheese.

Blueberry bichon (right) - tangy lemon curd with a blueberry compote.
Cardamom kouign-amann (left) - a pinwheel of butter, crisp pastry, infused lightly with cardamom, with caramelized sugar underneath.

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Coco’s coffee shop on College St has their peach cookies available this month. They sell out fairly early in the day in my experience. I sometimes see these at Forno Cultura this time of year, too.

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This is RLB’s Kouign Amann. Has anyone encountered one that looks as light? The only one I have ever had was leaden!

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The one I buy at Castle and Coal resembles this one. I will take photos next time I buy one.

It’s my favourite of the dozen personal sized Kouign Amanns I have purchased in Toronto over the past 17 years.

They make seasonal flavours KAs, as well.

Le Conciliabule on Gerrard E in Toronto, not far from the Indian grocery store spice shop where I buy safffon, also makes a good personal sized KA.

Also, the first one I had in Brittany in 2008, cut from a big rectangular slab, was light like that.

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@Phoenikia I have given up on this barring Kouing Amann Bakery Montreal being the first choice and b patisserie to in SF being a distant second. Maybe it’s just the memory of it that is throwing off my expectations of it most of them just didn’t taste right.

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Here is a pic of the one from Kouign Amann Bakery Montreal. This is from April 2025

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How did you find it? I couldn’t go last trip but someone brought a slice for me from Montreal. It didn’t travel well IMO as didn’t enjoy at all.
Also douce France offers it brought in from Brittany I have ordered it yet
Authentic Kouign-Amann Made in Brittany https://share.google/6keRxfmGJ9Jh8NQBN

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I don’t like the Kouign Amman at Montreal’s Kouign Amann bakery. I tried it on 2 occasions, between 2008 and 2013, when I was chasing the Kouign Amann dragon. I have not visited Kouign Amann in Montreal in the past 10 years.

I also don’t like Dominque Ansel’s DKA in NYC too much.

There was a restaurant called La Porte Rouge that had been run by a Breton couple, which closed, which had a lovely Kouign Amann.

Maybe I enjoy the Castle and Coal version more now that I only purchase Kouign Amann once or twice a year, and I’m not comparing various versions to one another.

I go through phases where I seek something out a lot, and then I don’t seek it out too much once I’m through the phase.

I did this with Kouign Amann, fish tacos, Huevos Rancheros. I only eat fish tacos once a year now. I rarely order Huevos Rancheros anymore.

I recently reached the end of my breakfast sandwich phase.

LOL

Best I’ve ever had!! Will def go there every time I’m in Montreal.

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Nicely caramelized exterior, buttery bread like inside. Just the right amount of sweetness and not too much so which i like. Do wish it is more buttery

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