Ended up at Roselle hmm their ice cream isn’t special and too pricey to recommend
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Savoury Kouign Amann? I’m there, or at least will try to be at some point.
Agree the soft serve at Roselle is only OK. But the banana cream pie eclairs…
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I tried the Baklava pancakes at Bar Koukla today
Hmm not what I expected there is some sour element thrown in which threw off my palate. My dining companion enjoyed them though
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I think it might be Greek yogurt? I tried the brunch there last year.
Being part Greek, I find Koukla and Mamakas a little gimmicky. Food is pretty good, but they’re focused on a niche market that I’m not part of.
The presentation, recipe and/or cook has changed since last summer.
There is a newish Greek place called Ballissimo in East York, for loukamades which I want to try. I have had them from Athens Pastries dozens of times- which are quite good - and I want to try some other spots. https://ballissimo.ca/
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My current favourite!..the New ‘Plum Sake Cream Bun from HATTENDO’ ($4.29 )
" Crafted with a perfect combination of Hattendo’s delicate, pillowy bun, light cream and plum sakekasu jelly from IZUMI Premium Plum sake, this new flavour has a nice sweetness, as well as an evident sake flavour! "
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Thanks for sharing Charles will check it out as a have location nearby. If you are a sakesu fan Izumi themselves sell ice cream version of it as well. I enjoy their Nama Nama a lot so go there once in a while to get the unpasteurized version which isn’t sold at LCBO.
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One of my favorite desserts, ever! (But at the NYC Bar Boulud.)
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Forgot about Hattendo. That flavour sounds lovely.
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Sake infusion was quite substantial! I got intoxicated after eating the whole one! Ha!
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Thanks for this note.
I was at Cafe Boulud last night (mixed review) but the dessert was AMAZING!
This was my favourite dessert in many a year.
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Agree, it is a great dessert and nice to hear it is maintaining consistency.
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Got around to trying le genie bakery today. A very steep price for grab and go but so far a positive impression.
I tried the Paris Brest with pistachio went well. The place was packed as well. Will visit again as am in the area often
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Wow!! Compare to say Rahier in mid-town or DUO uptown, price point of this downtown place is really, really expensive!! That small Strawberry tart of theirs is a whopping $4.98 more than both corresponding Rahier’s and Duo’s $9 products!
Even their simple Butter Croissant costs nearly $2 more!! To me, they looked the same and since nowadays, organic flour, butter and eggs are being used by everyone…so taste wise should be comparable?! No excuse to charge that much more!
They must forgot they are still in Toronto NOT Paris! Ha! 
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Yeah I concur Charles very steep for an already prepped dessert. Roselle is pricey as well for Paris Brest but not at this level to be fair this version tasted better than Roselle.
Charles the new yardstick for pricey bakery goes to London. Not sure you saw this a whopping 25 pounds (or quids) for a cookie!
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Well! At least Grolet was voted BEST Pastry Chef on earth a few years ago.
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I’ll check it out!
I can understand that a new bakery isn’t going to have the cashflow or steady income that an established bakery would have.
I would think the rent is cheaper for Duo than rent costs downtown. Different business, different location, different business plan.
By the way, Emmer is now open for dinner from Thu to Sun. Ridiculous line (over 20 people and around the corner) outside Emmer around 12:30 pm yesterday. Also a 10 person line at Blackbird.
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Thanks for the info about the Emmer I have been meaning to try them out for a while. Blackbird (BB) I assume Kensington market location? It was OK with the dessert stuff I tried at their newer location but with St. John’s nearby their Queen St Location I can’t justify buying things at BB. The St. John’s bread is better IMO not to mention their shortbread when in stock is probably the best in the city. I covet their brioche as so so good.
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So- Emmer is expensive. I like almost everything I have tried, bread, baked goods and café menu.
The only item I would actively avoid, is the pork schnitzel sandwich on the lunch menu. The pork schnitzel should be pounded and thin. Mine seemed to be more of a fatty pork chop that included fat that should have been trimmed off. It’s possible whoever is cooking the schnitzel doesn’t know what an ideal schnitzel should be like.
The loaves are very big, and expensive. $13 for a sesame loaf. They sell half loaves if you ask, which is more manageable for my budget and consumption.
Since Emmer on Harbord and Nadège in the Annex opened, I rarely shop at BlackBird Kensington anymore. I had been a very loyal customer at BlackBird for around 5 years.
In terms of dessert at Emmer, I’ve mostly bought Viennoisserie, frangipane tart, lemon tart and pear tart. They have had coconut cream pie recently.
If you head east of the Don River, I really enjoy everything at Le Conciliabule.
My current top 3 are Emmer, Noctua in the Junction and Le Conciliabule.
I have a few others I need to check out.
I want to visit Apricot Tree in Mississauga , which will make custom order Black Forest, Malakoff, Sacher, Dobostorte, strudels. I’ll order something during the holidays.
I also want to try a Kiev Torte, at some point. Maybe from Chocolada.
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