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

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