Bakeries in [Toronto]

[Phoenikia (prima)]

I’ll start with my visit to Là Lá Bakeshop today.

Tiny bakery. It’s quite expensive. A condensed milk croissant and a Scallion Chinese Sausage bun came to close to $12.
(edit: I realize now, looking at the photos 8 hours after my purchase, that the clerk accidentally charged me $6.20 before tax for the Scallion Chinese Sausage Croissant Banh Mi, instead of $3.80 plus tax for the Scallion Chinese Sausage Bun, and my bill should have been around $9)

I enjoyed the Scallion Chinese Sausage bun. I haven’t tried the croissant , as I didn’t purchase it for myself.

[fooddabbler]

@Phoenikia

as I didn’t purchase it for myself.

For me?

[Phoenikia (prima)]

Sure!

[naf]

@Phoenikia

Salted egg roll cake?! Cream on pork floss?
What’s that? Did you try it?

[Phoenikia (prima)]

I haven’t tried that one yet. Looked like a sponge cake roll with salted egg yolk.

@lalabakeshop.ca

[naf]

Interesting!

[Stevey (Steve Young)]

I first went to this Vietnamese bakery when they opened at Bloor/Spadina and we were in lockdown. Very small place. They are unique, different than your average Chinese or French bakery with ingredients like pork floss, salted egg, pandan or durian on most items.

They opened a 2nd location at Midland/Finch and I understand there were long lineups. We went twice; overall it was good because of it’s uniqueness, but not cheap. The Roasted Seaweed Roll Cake stood out for us.

[Stevey (Steve Young)]

Also want to give a shout out to Soft Dough Co. They claim to have " best Basque Burnt Cheesecakes and Madeleines" and I believe it - both were fantastic and I’ve not had better in the GTA! They are online shop only for now and you can do pickup or delivery (for reasonable charge). We also tried their Chocolate Dream Tart. Also excellent!

Soft Dough Co.

[Phoenikia (prima)]

Sounds good!

[Phoenikia (prima)]

What is your favourite special occasion cake or torte in Toronto?

[Stevey (Steve Young)]

Back before the pandemic and for larger home dinner gatherings, we sometimes like to order Scaramouche’s legendary coconut cream pie as a take away. Not sure if they’re still doing this post-pandemic.

[Phoenikia (prima)]

It’s possible to order a takeout Scaramouche coconut cream pie ($58 as of May 1/2022) through Tock. https://www.exploretock.com/scaramoucherestaurant/experience/201024/menu/whole-coconut-cream-pies-market-items

[DrJohn]

We’ve taken out Scaramouche’s coconut cream pie and very much enjoyed it.

Another favourite is the sour cherry clafouti from Bonjour Brioche, which is my wife’s preferred birthday “cake”. My grandmother was also partial to their flourless chocolate cake.

[Phoenikia (prima)]

My friends love it. I have tried it at Scaramouche a few times. I lean towards their other less famous desserts! Lol.

The most recent nice dessert I’ve bought was a frangipane tart at Emmer.

[Phoenikia (prima)]

Purchased a sesame loaf, slice of pistachio cake

and a salt caramel chocolate tart

at Emmer, and 6 mochi donuts at Isabella’s Donuts yesterday.

Would buy everything again.

[THECHARLES (Charles Yu)]

" La Petite Colline aka Shan-Shan Cafe, Markham " …using only natural and organic ingredients, this artisan bakery is IMHO one of the best boulangerie in the GTA. Its selection of European/Oriental fusion creation are tasty, varied and in some cases, quite unique.
As an award winner in her own right, the pastry chef/owner also worked along side the winner of the ‘2018 International Master de la Boulangarie’ for years before venturing out on her own.

[DrJohn]

Everything above looks really yummy. We have really enjoyed Isabella’s. Still have to try Emmer. Never heard of La Petite Colline - I like the name Coffee UFO bun.

[Phoenikia (prima)]

I’m parking this article here, since it involves a Jewish blueberry bun called
shtritzlach that is a Toronto specialty. There’s a recipe at the end of the article. These blueberry buns can be found at Harbord Bakery, Hermes, United Bakers and Gryfe’s.

Blueberry Buns Are The “Ultimate Insider Food”

[rstuart]

Wow, I have never heard of these! Clearly a trip to Harbord Bakery is in order…

[Phoenikia (prima)]

Lox + Schmear has a Blueberry Handpie, too, possibly their version of this, but they were sold out by 10:30 am this morning!