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Frangipane Patisserie

215 Madison Ave, Toronto, ON, M5R2S6

Rated this place:

posted Mar 13 2009

Fun, Friendly and Delicious Local Spot: Cakes, pies, tarts, cookies, macarons, macaroons, wedding cakes, galettes, cream puffs, mini cupcakes, large cupcakes, biscotti, brownies and chocolates - Frangipane Patisserie is without a doubt every bakery or cafe lover's paradise (myself included!). A small, fun, friendly and local spot at Dupont and Spadina, Frangipane's owner and chef, Claudia Egger offers her craft and brilliance in Frangipane's huge array of delicate pastry items and well thought-out flavours.

The best seller is the ice-wine poached pear set in almond frangipane tart, though the lemon cupcakes and squares are delicious and the ginger cookies are named one of the best in Toronto. Homemade chocolates like truffles and "Dark Chocolate Therapy Beads" are great for gifts. Try Frangipane's new Parisian Macarons which are only available on weekends, along with a number of their gluten-free products.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• desserts
• Pastry Shops
• Cakes
• tarts
• macarons

Le Gourmand

438 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 3S6

Rated this place:

posted Mar 20 2009

Coffee in the AM, Cookies in the PM: As I get off the Spadina streetcar every morning, I look right for oncoming traffic, cross the street and head for the door of Le Gourmand to pick up my morning ritual coffee, sidestepping and scoffing at the Starbucks morning ritual-ers.

Once you step into the shop that's always cozy and wafting with the smell of freshly baked pastries (muffins, cookies, croissants, danishes, Portuguese tarts, scones), it's as if you step away from the world of working 9-5 and into a busy Parisian cafe, even for just a few minutes of the day. The little tables, chalkboard menus and shelves packed with breads and pastries, chocolates, teas and fun products stimulate the senses.

A great breakfast and lunch place, Le Gourmand offers a great selection for the hungry: salads, gourmet sandwiches, quiches, pizzas and delicious soups. Specials of the day often include roti, macaroni and cheese and other baked goodness. The ultimate treat from Le Gourmand, however, are the cookies. Meals in themselves, the chocolate chip cookie is my favourite, followed by the "nookie cookie," walnut chocolate chip, peanut butter and then the oatmeal raisin. Portuguese tarts, chocolate bombs, brownies and tarts are also delicious, but it's the chocolate chip cookies that keep me coming back for my afternoon "cookie break" rituals.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• coffee shop
• chocolate chip cookie
• cookie
• afternoon snacks
• gourmet lunch

Xococava

1560 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4T 2S9

Rated this place:

posted Apr 7 2009

Chorizo truffles & drinking chocolate!: The story behind Xococava begins with its older sister: Cava with Chef Chris McDonald. Cava, known for offering some of Toronto's best charcuterie and was recognized as best new restaurant in 2007. Xococava (pronounced "choko-kava") is the playfully fun and "cheeky" little sister cafe, offering a unique feel of an upscale-ice-cream-parlour-meets-Max-Brenner-but-classier in Toronto.

Homemade ice creams, blow-your-mind flavour combinations, a mapped out science-lab-like chart of truffle flavours, pastries and drinking chocolate offerings that will leave you in an euphoric state - are what you can expect at Xococava. It's the perfect Sunday-afternoon stop before heading home for a nap.

Pastries begin with churros, spiced xocolate shortbread, catalan & chocolate-dipped hazelnut biscotti, xocolate chunk cookies, croissants, giant xocolate walnut macaroons and mouth watering xocolate brownie roulade (not for the faint-of-heart chocolate eaters). Fun confections include homemade marshmallows, cava corn and sponge toffee. Then there's an enormous selection of truffles from the sweet to savoury and spicy like Chorizo Truffles or Szechuan Peppercorn.

Homemade ice creams and gelatos in a dozen fun and regular flavours are offered - but the cherry on this sundae is the drinking chocolate. Get a short shot, con leche (mixed with steamed milk) or con cafe (with a shot of espresso). The Con Cafe is absolutely divine.

Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream

1087 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5R 3G8

Rated this place:

posted Apr 14 2009

Fun and delicious!: This cafe/bakery shop captures the senses and charms both first time and repeat visitors. Often buzzing with birthday parties (for kids and adults), small get-togethers and locals stopping by for a Sunday afternoon break, this small shop owned and run by Kyla is just plain fun and delicious.

It's a candy store for kids and adults alike - pies and tarts, madeleines, fruit tarts, butter tarts, ice cream, floats, sundaes, illy coffee and specialty tea, cookies, cupcakes big and small complete with a shelf lined with giant brightly coloured French macarons in huge glass jars. And you guessed it - the specialties served at at Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice cream are madeleines, cherry pie and ice cream. All products are baked fresh at the shop and most are made daily.

Stop in on a lazy afternoon for a cappuccino, a taste of their mini cupcakes, tarts or macarons in a slightly old-fashioned soda shop setting with tons of modern charm. They also do wedding cakes, cakes for special occasions, host Sunday brunches on their garden patio in the backyard during the summer and a ton of different small party or get-together activities and options. Go for a cookie-decorating (and eating) afternoon, a fun afternoon tea menu or a butterfly-making lesson.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cupcakes
• desserts
• macarons

Wanda's Pie In The Sky

287 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5T 2M2

Rated this place:

posted May 22 2009

Pies and squares and cookies, oh my!: Although it's a pie place, I haven't had too many good experiences with the pie - but other desserts are great. You name a pie flavour, they've got it. From good 'ol apple pie to apple crumble, dutch apple, fancy dutch, peach apple, Ontario sour cherry, peach praline, sour cream rhubarb, banana cream, coconut cream, mocha almond fudge, apricot frangipane, marzipan raspberry and spiced walnut - the list goes on and on. Wanda's Pie in the Sky found its way onto a busy corner shop into Kensington Market just a year ago in May 2008. It's great for spring and summer afternoons, the bustle of shop visitors and those walking through Kensington make this place one-of-a-kind. Stop in for a healthy lunch of specialty sandwiches and quiches or sit on the patio for a delicious bite. If you're ordering just a slice, they can warm it up for you - just make sure it's done right (so that the middle isn't still cold). Mediocre pies aside, Wanda's Pie in the Sky offers delicious cheesecakes, cakes, squares, tarts, macaroons, brownies and a killer ginger-molasses cookie.

Dessert Trends

154 Harbord St., Toronto, ON, M5S 1H2

Rated this place:

posted Mar 19 2009

Delicious desserts, brunch and afternoon tea: The brightly lit bistro-patisserie space is adorable and is a perfect day time spot along Harbord Street's growing restaurant and cafe lane. Unpretentious brunch dishes like french onion soup, sandwiches, quiches and omelettes are perfect weekend starters, the duck egg and chorizo sausage is one of my favourites. However, the star of the show at Dessert Trends is the display case of desserts, cakes, tarts and gelato - try the Frangelico Hazelnut Mousse Tart and you'll know why this place is known for desserts. Drop in on Saturday or Sunday afternoon during the spring or summer for a seat near the window.Dessert Trends is also a great for Afternoon Tea and small parties or bridal showers. They were also voted as having Toronto's Best Wedding Cakes. Their off-site bakery located on Weston Road, north of St. Clair sources their impeccably beautiful and delicious desserts to Pusateri's and Fresh & Wild, but is closed to the public.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• tea
• gelato
• desserts
• brunch
• Lunch