Bread-Stuff Bakery - CLOSED

The North York area (north part)  is in a dire need of a good bakery.  Most 'bakeries' in the area purchase baked goods from other bakeries and re-sell them.  Or theres Chinese bakeries that sell mostly buns and egg tarts.  Now that I've moved out of North York, Bread-Stuff Bakery opens.  I found this place by looking up places that use organic flour (while I was still on my elimination diet).  I have been back several times since to try their breads, and croissants.  Everything was very good.  No complaints at all.  The croissant was flakey buttery.  Their breads are of the artisan style, light and fluffy on the inside with a nice crust on the outside.  The first loaf of bread I bought was a olive ciabatta.  I pretty much ate half the loaf sitting there waiting for the the hubby to finish his lunch, which was something that was similar to a spanakopita, beef filled.  The second time we went I ordered a brie sandwich which came in a baguette, with sun dried tomato,  spinach and olive tapenade.  My only complaint is that I thought they would heat up the sandwich, but they didn't.  So I asked them to and they gladly did it for me.  But I just wish I didn't have to ask.  The hubby liked those beef spanakopitas so much he ate TWO!  I have yet to try their muffins and danishes which look delicious too.  They have a good variety of options of everything.

Not a very large space, just 3 small bistro tables with 2 chairs each, and a standing counter by the window.  But it's never been too busy for me to eat a quick lunch.

Muffins, Danishes, Croissants

Beef Spanakopita

Olive Ciabatta

Croissant - reheated at home

Bread-Stuff Bakery
2885 Bayview Ave.,  Retail Unit #2
North York, ON
M2K 0A3

Phone:  416-733-2885

Hours: Monday - Friday 7a - 7p
            Saturday 8a - 5p
            Sunday 10a - 4p

http://bread-stuff.ca

Bakery Hopping

This was a bad idea.....a very bad idea.  And yet my friend was trying to convince me to fit in MORE places.  We essentially went to 3 bakeries downtown before dinner because we had 1.5 hours to kill.  My tastebuds loved me that night, but my stomach tells me that if I continue to do this, I will have to buy new pants.

Our first stop was Le Gourmand.  This was my suggestion since another one of my evil friends decided to take a picture of their gorgeous spread of cakes and cookies and post it on FB.  I bought 3 cookies, 3 very delicious cookies, 2 chocolate chunk and 1 walnut chocolate chunk.  They had to be the greasiest cookies i've ever eaten, but so melty chocolately, buttery, chewy and oozing.  Definitely need to limit the trips I make to Le Gourmand, but i'm sure that if and when I decide to go back, I will be purchasing more of these cookies!  Price wise, they are quite expensive I think, but who knows this could be the normal price that cookies cost.  I normally don't buy cookies because I make my own.  But I have to say, the cookies were quite large, and based on taste, worth every penny.

Walnut Chocolate Chunk & Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Second Stop was Nadege.  I've read many mixed reviews of this place since they have opened up, so thats why I haven't been earlier.  I bought their signature dessert, the Marie Antoinette which is what I would describe as a vanilla custard tart topped with mini macarons, mini croissants, and some macarons.  The macarons on top of the tart weren't particularly good, quite dry as a matter of fact.  But it was cute.  The 'normal' macarons were very good, crisp exterior and slightly chewy inside, just the way I like them.  The mini croissants I didn't get a chance to try until the next morning, and i'm not sure if thats why, but I found them to be a little dry.

Marie Antoinette

Green Tea & Coffee Macarons

Mini Croissants

Last stop was Forno Cultura since it was right by where we were having dinner.  Walking into this bakery, I was in what I would consider heaven for me.  So much fresh baked bread......all different shapes, colours and flavours.  I love bread.  I could eat bread and butter every meal.  I'm sure again if I attempted that, I would need to buy new pants, so I try not to eat as much bread as I would like.  I wish I remembered to take pictures, but I bought a lemon shortbread, and a bread that was very similar to what I would call a foccacia.  But I don't think it was a foccacia because it was much thicker, it was like a round loaf topped with tomatoes, onions and herbs.  I could easily eat that without any butter.

Le Gourmand
152 Spadina Ave.
Toronto, ON
M5V 3S6

416-866-2127

Hours:  Monday -Friday 7:00a - 8:00p
             Saturday 9:00a - 6:00p
             Sunday 9:00a - 5:00p

http://legourmand.ca

Nadege Patisserie
780 Queen St W
Toronto, ON
M6J 1G2

416-368-2009

Hours: Monday - Wednesday 8:00a - 8:00p
            Thursday - Saturday 8:00a - 9:00p
            Sunday 8:00a - 7:00p

http://www.nadege-patisserie.com

Forno Cultura
609 King St. W
Toronto, ON
M5V 1M5

416-603-8305

Hours:   Monday Closed
              Tuesday - Saturday 7:30a - 9:30p
              Sunday 8:00a - 6:00p

http://fornocultura.com

Traditional Challah Bread

This year, my unofficial resolution to myself is to prepare more homemade foods as possible.  No more buying off the shelf products if I could help it.  This is my effort to avoid putting so many preservatives and additives in my body.  So I have begun to bake my own bread when time allows.  The first loaf this year was Challah.  It ended up being a lot easier than I expected and quicker than I expected.  In total, I think it took about 3 hours from start to end.  Give this recipe a try, it's delicious!

Traditional Challah

Traditional Challah Recipe (from Canadian Living)
Ingredients
2 tsp (10 mL) granulated sugar 
1/2 cup (125 mL) warm water 
1 pkg active dry yeast (or 1 tbsp/15 mL) 
3-1/2 cups (875 mL) all-purpose flour (approx) 
1 tsp (5 mL) salt
1/4 cup (50 mL) liquid honey 
1/4 cup (50 mL) butter, melted (or vegetable oil) 
2 eggs, lightly beaten 
2 egg yolks 
3/4 cup (175 mL) golden raisins 
Topping: 
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten 
1 tbsp (15 mL) sesame seeds

Preparation
1. In large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle in yeast; let stand until frothy, about 10 minutes. Using wooden spoon, stir in 3 cups (750 mL) of the flour and salt. Add honey, butter, eggs and egg yolks; stir until dough forms.

2. Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, adding enough of the remaining flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease all over. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise in warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk and indentation remains when dough is poked with 2 fingers, about 1 hour. Punch down dough; knead in raisins. Let rest for 5 minutes.

3. To make crown: Roll out dough into 30-inch (76 cm) long rope. Holding 1 end in place, wind remaining rope around end to form fairly tight spiral that is slightly higher in centre. Transfer to greased rimmed baking sheet.

4. To make braid: Divide dough into quarters; roll each into 18-inch (45 cm) long ropes. Place side by side on greased rimmed baking sheet; pinch together at 1 end. Starting at pinched end, move second rope from left over rope on its right. Move far right rope over 2 ropes on left. Move far left rope over 2 ropes on right. Repeat until braid is complete; tuck ends under braid.

5. Cover crown loaf or braid loaf with plastic wrap; let rise in warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

6. Topping: Stir egg yolk with 1 tsp (5 mL) water; brush over loaf. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Bake in centre of 350°F (180°C) oven until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped on bottom, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool on rack.

French Corner Bakery & Patisserie

My food partner in crime at work is on maternity leave, meaning I haven’t been out looking for new places to try.  I can’t remember why I Googled for a bakery near work, but I did, and I’m glad I did.  This cute little bakery I supposed to have really good pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants).  However, by the time I went (lunch time), they were sold out already.  I bought a dozen macarons because they looked good, and a piece of tomato focaccia for lunch. 

The focaccia was delicious.  Lots of fresh tomato flavor.  And it was huge!  I was so stuffed after.  I would love to try more of their breads from this bakery one day.

The macarons, while they looked good, was just ok.  The macaron shell was a little tough, while the insides remained chewy.  The fillings were good and tasted of what it was supposed to taste of, with none of that artificial flavorings.  The price was less than $2 each from what I remember.  So its cheap and good enough for a macaron craving fix.

Tomato Foccacia

Macarons

French Corner Bakery & Patisserie

1224 Dundas Street W.,

Mississauga, ON,

L5C 4G7

Hours: Monday - Saturday 8:00am - 7:00pm

            Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm

https://www.facebook.com/FrenchCornerCafeBakeryAndPatisserie