Bakery Archives - Page 2 of 6

In Bakery

The Cycling Croissant: Breakfast Delivery Service in Vancouver

August 8, 2016

Grab pastries for an early morning meeting is pretty tough if you love your sleep. For those busy bees, The Cycling Croissant is here to help us get pastries delivered right to our door.

The Cycling Croissant showed up at my office before one of my meetings so I could share it with my coworkers. I love a nice sweet treat to begin the day with a cup of coffee or tea.

In the box were croissants, chocolate croissants, almond croissants, mini palmiers, and a raisin danish. They also have apple turnovers, but I didn’t try it.

By the time that it arrives, it isn’t very hot or crispy. So, you will need to pop it into a toaster oven if you have one. Sadly I don’t have a toaster oven in the office, so we ate it as is.

The croissants had a good amount of buttery taste and richness. Of all of them, I liked the almond croissant and the mini palmiers.

For delivered pastries, it wasn’t bad. If I really wanted a superb croissant, I’ll definitely go out of the way to acquire it.

You can make any combination in your order as long as it has a minimum order of $15. It arrives between 7am – 12pm, delivery is free and they will send you a text message before they arrive.

They only delivery to Downtown Vancouver and some parts of Vancouver, so it’s not available to those living outside of those areas.

If you’re ever stuck in a bind and need pastries delivered to yourself or a friend, The Cycling Croissant is for you.

Website:
https://www.thecyclingcroissant.com/

In Bakery

Swiss Bakery: Lunch Time

February 17, 2016

Swiss Bakery has been around since 1993 baking up a storm in Mount Pleasant. They made headlines years ago for creating the Frissant – fritter + croissant combo in Vancouver similar to a Cronut. Since the shop is so close to my work, a few of us came here for lunch on a beautiful Friday.

The space isn’t too large but there are a few seats and a large communal table. Most people did get take out.

What caught my eye when ordering lunch are the mini frissants! Half the guilt of eating a whole frissant. It was a few days before Valentines day, so their usual frissants were shaped like hearts.

Elderflower Mini Frissant was quite greasy. It sat in a paper bag on my desk and all the grease seeped out. This isn’t for those who are on a diet. Since it was a Friday, I didn’t mind. I found the flavour of the elderflower to be a bit odd. Slightly sour.

Coconut Chocolate and caramel Mini Frissant was awesome! That mix of chocolate and caramel were amazing.

Italian Salami on Olive Bread was a good lunch item to order. A good amount of salami and cheese. I got it toasted so the bread was nice and warm.

Overall, its a good lunch time alternative if you are in the Mount Pleasant area.

We Rate Swiss Bakery:

Address:
143 East 3rd Avenue, Vancouver

Website:
http://swissbakery.ca/

In Bakery

Sweetery Cafe + Dessert: Open on Saturdays

February 4, 2016

Sweetery Cafe + Dessert finally opens up on Saturdays. Even thought I work close by, it was always just out of reach. Seeing all their mouth water photos on Instagram, made me go a little bit nuts. I came with a friend to indulge on some coffee and waffles during brunch.

It’s located on 2nd close to the Granville St Bridge. There’s free parking out front for 1 hour.

There is a good amount of seating inside. We got here at around 10:30am and stayed here for both their breakfast and lunch menu.

We put in our order and waited patiently for the wonderful food to arrive.

Cappuccino was what I needed this morning. Nice and frothy.

Eggs Benedict on Waffles comes with potatoes on the side. You have the option to have it on waffles or english muffins. Highly recommended item!

We chose to have our eggs soft and they did deliver! Once I cut inside, it was so delicious and gooey.

I love the option of having it on a waffle.

Chicken and Waffles is what I was craving. We had to wait till 11am till they started taking orders for their lunch menu. It comes with maple syrup and hot sauce.

The chicken was tender on the inside, but the exterior could have been more crisp. On the other hand, the waffle was very delicious and crisp. I guess it kinda makes up for it.

Overall it was a good experience. You must get their Eggs Benedict and double baked croissants.

We Rate Sweetery Cafe + Dessert:

Address:
340 W. 2nd Ave, Vancouver BC

Website:
http://www.sweeterycafe.com/

In Bakery

Oso Negro: Cafe in Nelson, BC

December 9, 2015

Oso Negro Cafe is the cafe to go in Nelson, BC. I went on a Saturday morning and I swear, the whole town was here looking to get their morning coffee. There was a line up out the door.

Their interior showcases the artwork of talented local artists and artisans or outdoors in their splendid perennial garden. The space is pretty awesome.

Oso Negro was born in Nelson, BC in 1993 in a tiny space, with a tiny 1 kg Petroncini roaster. We focused on simplicity, freshly roasting our beans in small batches and selling the results as single varietals. The roasting space doubled as a cafe, and it was our pleasure to visit with customers and serve coffee to our neighbours.

They have over 20 blends of coffee beans in the cafe.

Latte is what I ordered. It was pretty strong and had more of a strong burnt taste to it.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie was the quick bite I needed in the morning before going back to the Okanagan. We had a long drive ahead of us, so we got sugar and caffeine.

Overall, Oso Negro was a good stop, but their coffee is a bit strong and has a slightly burnt taste to it.

We Rate Oso Negro:

Address:
604 Ward St, Nelson, BC

Website:
http://osonegrocoffee.com/cafe/

In Bakery

Fondway Cafe: Milk Tea and Cake

December 8, 2015

Fondway Cafe is the latest cafe to open up in South Burnaby right by Metrotown. It is literally a few steps away from the skytrain. They specialize in coffee, tea and asian-inspired pastries.

The space is quite nice with a lot of natural light coming in. Very hip.

They have a Chinese and English menu available. At first I grabbed their Chinese menu and had no idea what I was reading. I’m such an asian disgrace.

They have a pretty large collection of tea along one of their walls.

During peak hours, it’s pretty hard to find a seat. It’s getting quite popular.

Once you order and pay, you get a giant clip with your order number.

Milk tea with grass jelly is served in a super cute cup. The drink wasn’t too sweet, which was great. It tasted pretty awesome and it definitely rivals some of the best milk teas in town.

Cheesecake with burnt sugar on top was a dense type of cheesecake. Not too sweet which caters to the asian tastebuds.

My friends got their Okinawa milk tea and they though it was pretty good.

What more could you want? Girl talk, milk tea and cake. Best combination ever.

If you are a coffee lover, you may want to try some of their specialty coffee drinks like their cold brew on tap and their soda coffee.

Overall, I love the space and its a great place to chill with friends. You definitely have to grab a slice of cake and milk tea when you’re here.

We Rate Fondway Cafe:

Address:
4462 Beresford Street, Burnaby

Website:
http://fondway.ca/

In Bakery

Cartems Donuterie: Donuts on Main Street

July 27, 2015

Have you found the little donut on Main Street? It’s a bit hidden if you don’t look hard enough.

Cartems Donuterie opened up their 2nd location here. Their other location is on Pender Street Downtown. They have great creative favours that have captured the hearts of many Vancouverites. I’ve had their donuts many times but I always find there are only a few outstanding donuts that I can’t get tired of like their earl grey.

Their space is large and is ideal for long line ups. Usually you have a backlog of people staring at the donuts and not knowing what to order.

With a spread like this, it is hard. It took me a while too since I didn’t want to go with my usual order.

If you aren’t into donuts, I wonder why you would be here in the first place. Either way, they sell Earnest Ice Cream, Tea and Coffee.

I love their wall of donut boxes. A lot of people seem to get large orders and take them to-go. It’s a great item to bring to a party.

London Fog Donut is filled with an earl grey mousse inside with the london fog glaze on top. Since I love their earl grey donut, I thought this would be a no brainer. I didn’t really like it.

Next time, I will stick with my usual earl grey donut.

Cappuccino is what I ordered. There wasn’t a lot of foam, so I should have ordered it extra dry. I wasn’t a big fan of their espresso that they used. I found it to be quite acidic that what I am normally used to.

Overall, Cartems Donuterie makes great donuts, but I would stick with their signature donuts like earl grey, bee sting, etc. The interior is large and has a good amount of seating.

We Rate Cartems Donuterie:

Address:
2190 Main Street,
Vancouver

Website:
http://cartems.com/

In Bakery

Elysian Coffee: Coffee Shop in Mount Pleasant

July 9, 2015

Elysian Coffee has 3 cafes in Vancouver and I made a trip to their Mount Pleasant location with J for a morning coffee before work. Their space looks fantastic with lots of natural light coming into the cafe. No wonder there was already a few people on their laptops this early in the morning.

They opened this location near the end of 2014 taking over CocoaNymph. It’s a neighbourhood gem and it really caters to the hip offices in the area. They also have a roasting room and bakery in the back.

Cappuccino ($3.75) was very enjoyable. Great to kick off the morning with a strong coffee and fluffy foam.

Chive and Cheddar Scone ($3.25) was pretty awesome It has a crispy cheese exterior with so much chives inside. Very delicious!

Overall, I was impressed by Elysian Coffee and the beautiful space. It’s a hit hidden as it isn’t on a main road.

We Rate Elysian Coffee:

Address:
2301 Ontario Street, Vancouver

Website:
http://elysiancoffee.com/

In Bakery

Propaganda Coffee: Cafe in Chinatown

May 30, 2015

Propaganda Coffee is located in Chinatown on East Pender and Main Street. They opened up earlier this year. They use beans from local companies like Timbertrain and Elysian.

Their bar is pretty neat so you can see what they are doing. You don’t have the big bulky machine that blocks the way.

The space can seat up to about 30 people. It’s another great cafe to just chill and do some work on your laptop.

The interior is very sleek and modern.

I grabbed a cappuccino ($3.50) and it came out looking beautiful with a little bit of latte art on top. The quality of it was pretty good and strong. My perfect morning pick me up.

Butter Croissant was something I needed to just fill my tummy before lunch time. It was crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Their logo on their cups is super cute! It’s a robot. I brought it back to the office and kept on sipping away.

Overall, I thought it was a great addition to the area. It’s another alternative with great coffee and space to work.

We rate Propaganda Coffee:

Address:
209 East Pender Street,
Vancouver

Website:
http://www.propagandacoffee.ca/

In Bakery

Renfrew Cafe: Pies, Coffee and Tea

March 1, 2015

Renfrew Cafe just opened up a few months ago. They are located a few blocks away from PNE and Playland. Their boutique cafe serves fusion Asian & Western pies (both savoury and sweet), as well as a range of specialty coffees.

They use local, natural ingredients in their savoury and sweet pies. The pies are served fresh and made from scratch on site every day. They brew a rotating selection of coffee from Elysian Coffee and serve single origin teas from Oollo Tea.

The interior is nice, cozy and clean. It’s a good quiet place to get some work done or a chat with a friend.

Cappuccino (6oz – $3.50) was delicious and beautifully put together.

Iced Coffee ($3.50) is brewed to order with an aeropress and then iced.

Mushroom and Spinach Pie ($7) has sautéed mushroom & spinach, all natural mozzarella cheese from Scardillo Cheese and homemade tomato sauce. This pie is pretty awesome and it smiles back at you. Instagram worthy!

I liked the balance of flavours and it reminded me of a calzone instead of a pie due to the shape. This one was my personal favourite.

Beef and Kimchi Pie ($7) is made of all natural beef brisket from Okanagan with locally made kimchi.

Ham and Cheese Pie ($7) is made of all natural ham from Johnston’s in Chillwack, all natural mozzarella cheese from Scardillo Cheese, homemade tomato sauce and organic pineapples.

This reminded us of a Hawaiian Pizza.

All 3 savoury pies were on par with each other and had a good combination of ingredients. For $7 a pie, it’s a good size for a snack, but not for a meal to make you full. You probably need 2 or 3 to get full.

Their dessert pies are $4 each and the flavours vary day to day. All of them are delicious when paired with coffee or tea.

Classic Apple ($4) is made with stewed Granny Smith apples with cinnamon.

Mocha Banana Pie ($4) is made with organic bananas, homemade mocha sauce and almond cream.

Very Blueberry Pie ($) is made with stewed all natural blueberries with almond frangipane.

Matcha Mochi Anko Pie ($) is made with Matcha from Kyoto, homemade mochi and anko (Sweet red bean paste).

It’s very good and filled with the mochi and red bean paste, we wished the matcha stood out more. It was hard to taste since it’s sprinkled on top.

They have a few toys in the store to keep kids occupied while you sip away on coffee and devour pies.

Renfrew Cafe is a great addition to the neighbourhood and serves great pies and coffee. Definitely stop by this cute cafe.

We Rate Renfrew Cafe:

Address:
826 Renfrew St
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.renfrewcafe.ca/

In Bakery

Middlegate Aroma Bake House: Bakery in South Burnaby

January 22, 2015

Middlegate Aroma Bake House is located in South Burnaby close to the Edmonds area. The newest owners have been here for the past 1.5 years serving up a variety of baked goods from all over the world.

Throughout the year, they have close to 900 different items for sale.

Once you step into the shop, you will see so many baked goods and desserts.

The treats are quite affordable and most are under $2.

They also sells a variety of cakes, tarts and desserts.

Forty Ninth Parallel is what they serve if you need a little coffee with your treats.

Zaban Puff Pastry is a Persian pastry with a touch of honey on top. It is flakey and not overly sweet.

Danish Pastry had more of a bread to cream ratio. I wish there were more cream and peaches to their danishes.

Dark Chocolate Mousse is nice and creamy with a bit of cake on the bottom.

Fruit and Nut Scone is packed full of nuts and dried fruit. So much! I really enjoyed it and would make a great power breakfast.

Rice Cookies comes in 2s. It doesn’t contain gluten, so it’s great for people who are allergic to gluten. When you first bite into it, it is quite dry, so you will need some coffee or tea to go with it.

They also sell Zolbia and Bamieh, traditional Iranian treats drenched in honey. It’s quite sweet, so it’s not for everyone.

Baklava comes in square bite-size pieces. It has a strong taste of honey but is pretty addictive.

Almond Florentine is a brittle, roasted almond mingled with the taste of candied fruit. It is also dipped in chocolate on the other side.

Brownie bites in a cup.

Each bite was good and its the perfect size if you just need a bite of brownie.

Cannoli was good. The inside is made on dense fudge with bits of nuts and the crispy tube.

Tahini Granola Balls comes in a pack of 4. Another alternative treat for people who are vegan or gluten free.

Almond Apricot Tart has the apricots scattered all around. It tasted alright.

Buckwheat and Quinoa Cookies are gluten-free and is rich in Amino Acids, Dietary Fiber, Minerals, Vitamin Bs, Antioxidants, high in Protein, and easy to digest. Since my sister is Ciliac, this would be a better option than the other treats here.

Overall, they have a lot to choose from and have alternatives for people with dietary restrictions. If you’re looking for a bakery with European and treats from around the world, give Middlegate Aroma Bake House a try.

We Rate Middlegate Aroma Bake House:

Address:
7155 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC

Website:
http://www.aromabakehouse.com/

In Bakery

2% Jazz Coffee: Coffee Roaster in Victoria

December 23, 2014

2jazz-cup

2% Jazz Coffee has been serving coffee in Victoria since 1996. They offer a unique coffee experience with an open space concept where coffee roaster and cafe culture collide. The Roastery and Cafe is outside the historic Hudson building. Right by the Victoria Public Market and block away from Chinatown. I got a bit lost finding the place, but as long as you walk around the outside of The Hudson, you will find it.

Some of their coffee cups even have cool stamps on it. I want to say this one is of Star Wars.

2jazz-cookies

They even have some yummy baked goods.

2jazz-cappuccino

Dry Cappuccino (16oz) is one of my favourite drinks. I always find a regular cappuccino and latte very similar depending on how the barista makes it. So, I always ask for it as a dry cappuccino to add more frothy foam so I can taste more of the espresso.

2jazz-coffee

Black Coffee (16oz) was what my coworker ordered. She liked it.

2jazz-beans

I also bought a few gifts for friends while I was here. Their Bourbon Sumatra Beans are heavenly! Perfect for those who like bourbon and coffee. 1lb is $24 and 1/5 lb is $12.

Overall, great coffee. If you are near the Victoria Farmers Market in the Hudson, definitely check them out for coffee.

We Rate 2% Jazz Coffee:

Address:
1701 Douglas Street
Victoria BC

Website:
http://2percentjazz.com/

In Bakery

Patisserie Daniel: Bakery in Victoria

December 21, 2014

Patisserie Daniel is a little shop in Victoria that makes a crazy amount of baked goods, plus they are best known for their wedding cakes. In 2014, they were named as having Canada’s Prettiest Wedding Cakes by Wedding Bells.

The store has a lot of baked goods especially during the holidays. Floor to ceiling basically. The store is small, so there is no seating inside. Most people buy the baked goods and then take it home.

Chocolate candy cane bark

Candy Cane Biscotti was cute and goes great with coffee.

More Candy Cane Biscotti

A lot of great items for gifts if you are going over to a friends for the holiday.

They do have their other savoury treats

More sweet treats that aren’t holiday related. They have really yummy treats that keep patrons coming back.

Chocolate Tart was delicious. It has a bit of raspberry on the bottom with a bit of cake, them topped with chocolate mousse and strands of white chocolate. M and I gobbled these up.

You will want to come here early when they open when they have their full stock, within a few hours, most of the stock is all gone.

We Rate Patisserie Daniel:

Address:
1729 Cook Street,
Victoria, BC V8T 1C8

Website:
http://www.patisseriedaniel.com/

In Bakery

Purebread Bakery: Open in Vancouver

October 26, 2014

Purebread Bakery finally opened in Vancouver! They are a Whistler-based family bakery that makes some addictive treats. For the last little while, they have been at various Farmers Markets in Vancouver. I would plan to go to the Vancouver Farmers Market near Main Street Skytrain every other week to get a taste of their scones and brownies. They are crazy delicious.

When you walk inside, you will see the plethora of baked goods on the counters! There are so many things to look at. I was a bit over whelmed.

The staff all wear bandana’s on their heads just like the “We Can Do It” women.

They have their savoury scones. Pssttt….these are my favourite items from them especially the cheddar jalapeño scones.

They also have their sweet scones, cakes, brioche buns, etc.

They have a lot more sweet treats and they change them up daily. They also have loaves of bread and pies.

They also sell drinks too that go with the treats.

Beside the drink counter is a waiting room if you have ordered drinks.

I grabbed a Cappuccino to go.

Nutella Brioche ($3.50) the fluffy brioche was wrapped around crunchy roasted nuts smothered in lots of Nutella. The first few bites were good with the Nutella swirling around your mouth with the buttery brioche. After awhile, it did taste a tad dry if you aren’t drinking coffee or tea with this.

Caramelized Banana Brownie ($3.50) was as good as a regular brownie. I love bananas so I naturally loved this yummy treat. It is a big brownie, so I had to cut it up into 6 pieces and eat it slowly. The brownie is quite rich, so eating the whole thing

Cheddar Jalapeno Scone ($4) is huge and its packed full of cheese and jalapeño. It’s damn good and it’s my favourite item. For me it’s too big to eat in one sitting, but I slowly eat it throughout the day and share bits of it with other.

Pumpkin Pie for 2 ($7) was an item they were selling around Thanksgiving. They had larger versions, but a 2 person portion was perfect for M and I.

Overall, I love certain items at Purebreads. I usually stick with the scones and the brownies.

We Rate Purebread Bakery:

Address:
692 E Hastings St
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.purebread.ca/

In Bakery

Baguette and Co: New Bakery on Main Street

October 21, 2014

Baguette and Co has a new location by Main and Broadway. This is their third location and the other ones are in Kitsilano and the West End.

The intersection on Main/Broadway is really shaping up! Lots of new restaurants coming into the area. Mags and I came here before work to grab a coffee and a few treats before going into the office.

They serve up Salt Spring Coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and a variety of desserts.

The other side of the cafe has a few seats available. All the seating is in pairs, but I’m sure you can move around the tables.

I just grabbed a Small Cappuccino ($2.95) and 3 mini pastries ($2.95 for 3) to go. The mini croissant, mini chocolate croissant and raisin danish. They didn’t last on my desk for very long. Every email I responded to, I felt a need to eat each little treat.

I like the option of the miniature because you don’t have to eat the whole thing. Sometimes you just need a little taste.

The quality of the treats were ok, but it wasn’t anything unique. I also tried some of their brownies and it tastes more like chocolate cake than a brownie. I think they need some tweaking on some of their pastries.

It’s still a good place to go in the morning for coffee and treat before work. There’s lots of pastries to choose from. You can’t go wrong with a muffin.

We Rate Baguette and Co.:

Address:
2509 Main Street
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.baguetteandco.ca/index.html

In Bakery

Beta5: Chocolates, Ice Cream Sandwiches and Cream Puffs

October 13, 2014

Beta 5 Chocolates is a few blocks away from Main Street Station in a hidden industrial area. I am quite lucky to be working close by too, so lunch trips to Beta 5 are quite fun and mighty delicious. If you see sleeping food trucks and warehouses in the area, you are in the right spot.

They are one of Canada’s top Chocolatiers and have won multiple awards since they have opened. Once you get a taste of their chocolates, you will know what I’m talking about.

Their chocolates are works of art! They have 3 signature chocolates from the 2013 International Chocolate Awards.

The Whole Cherry – awarded SILVER in both the Canadian and International competitions for Dark Chocolate Ganaches
Bay Leaf – awarded GOLD in the Canadian competition for Milk Chocolate Ganaches
Fisherman’s Friend – awarded GOLD in both the Canadian and International competitions for Dark Chocolate Ganaches

You can grab a box of their Award-Winning Signature Chocolates ($30), which comes with 12 unique flavours. The flavours are:

Imperial Stout
Caramelized Banana
Coconut-Lime
Pear & Praline
Earl Grey
Jasmine Tea
Salted Chocolate Caramel
Crispy Praline
66% Mokaya
Bay Leaf
The Whole Cherry
Fisherman’s Friend

It’s a good option for gifts.

Their cream puffs are pretty amazing too. Sometimes when I come here in the afternoon, a bunch of flavours are already gone. Make sure you come early to make sure you get the flavours you want. All the cream puffs are made to order, so its always fresh.

You can always order ahead of time by calling them (minimum of 12) to make sure you get the flavours you want.

Some of the flavours are:

85% Dark Chocolate and Caramel Cream Puff
Banana Cream Puff
Black Forest Cream Puff
Blueberry Yuzu Cream Puff
Coconut and Passion Fruit Cream Puff
Milk Chocolate Praline Cream Puff
Milk Chocolate S’more Cream Puff
Salted Caramel Cream Puff
Vanilla Cream Puff
Vietnamese Coffee

I’ve ordered a bunch of their cream puffs over the last year and I definitely have a few of my favourites. There are no bad cream puff flavours at all. Plus, they all look amazing.

I always have to get the Banana Cream Puff and 85% Dark Chocolate and Caramel Cream Puff.

They also sell Ice Cream Sandwiches. It’s a newer item they introduced this year and it was quite popular in the summer.

Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream Sandwich was huge. The ice cream sandwich has a graham cracker crust with a lot of blueberry ice cream with embedded blueberries…lots of them.

If you are gaga over their various treats, they have a Chocolate Union membership where they ship you a box of their assorted goodies every month. I’ve been taking a look on Instagram to see what they make for each month and man, they really are works of art.

The membership is pretty expensive:

3 months – $180
6 months – $345
12 months – $660

It’s something I could never afford, but if you got the money, I am sure you will enjoy everything that comes as part of the membership.

If you buy too many things at Beta 5, your wallet will definitely hurt, but you tummy will thank you for it. Go for the chocolates, cream puffs or Ice Cream Sandwiches.

We Rate Beta 5 Chocolates:

Address:
413 Industrial Ave
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.beta-5.com/

[googlemap width=”620″ height=”480″ src=”https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=413+Industrial+Ave+Vancouver,+BC&t=m&hnear=413+Industrial+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V6A&z=15 “]

In Bakery

2% Jazz Coffee: Coffee in Victoria, BC

October 9, 2014

2% Jazz Coffee has been serving coffee in Victoria since 1996. They offer a unique coffee experience with an open space concept where coffee roaster and cafe culture collide.

The Roastery and Cafe is outside the historic Hudson building. Right by the Victoria Public Market and block away from Chinatown. I got a bit lost finding the place, but as long as you walk around the outside of The Hudson, you will find it.

The baked goods looked amazing. Prices are pretty good too.

I wish I had the stomach for some treats, but all I needed was coffee. Next time, I’ll have to make sure I grab a treat.

Latte was made beautifully with some latte art on the top. The espresso in it was nice and strong and the milk was smooth.

Overall, the atmosphere in the cafe was great, plus the staff is nice and friendly. I can image lots of people here just doing some work or chilling with friends. If you are ever in Victoria, definitely check out 2% Jazz Coffee. They have 2 locations in Victoria.

We Rate 2% Jazz Coffee:

Address:
1701 Douglas Street
Victoria BC

Website:
http://2percentjazz.com/

In Bakery

Panne Rizo Gluten Free Bakery: Black Forest Cake

October 6, 2014

Panne Rizo is a local Gluten Free Bakery with locations in Kitsilano and South Burnaby. They only sell Gluten-free items and have won Georgia Straight’s People’s Choice Winner for Golden Plates for both 2012 and 2013. Also, they were voted Top Choice Cafe of 2014. They have also been around for over 15 years.

I received a SocialShopper voucher redeemable for an 8-Inch Gluten Free Custom Cake or Black Forest Cake from Panne Rizo. As my little sister is Celiac, she gets really sad when she can’t eat cakes or suffers through the side effects of eating gluten. It’s usually the latter, but she loves bread and cake.

I called them to order the cake with 48 hours notice. They won’t take any orders under that time.

This place has shelves upon shelves of baked goods. They also serve lunch here as well.

Or you can grab some pies, pizza, or sandwiches to go.

Black Forest Cake originates from Germany and is known for their layers of chocolate cake, with whipped cream and cherries between each layer. Then, it is topped with more whipped cream, chocolate shavings and cherries.

When I was a kid, we ended up having a lot of black forest cake for some reason. So, fast forward 20 years or so, I had the delight of trying black forest cake again.

There’s lots of whipped cream, 2 layers of chocolate cake and the cherry jam in the centre. I got the whole family to taste test and they thought it was ok. My little sister thought the cake was dense and had too much whipped cream.

We all had our varying opinions, but Black Forest Cake alone isn’t very exciting. I would suggest choosing a different cake with the voucher and pay a little bit more for their chocolate hazelnut cake or carrot cake.

Overall, I think I will need to make a revist to really have their true colours shine by trying some cookies and bread.

We Rate Panne Rizo Gluten Free Bakery:

Address:
1939 Cornwall Ave
Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.pannerizo.com/

In Bakery

Chewy Junior: New Cream Puff Store in Vancouver

September 19, 2014

Chewy Junior opened their first location in Downtown Vancouver inside the Harbour Centre Building. This is their expansion into the North American market. Chewy Junior is a chain of cream puff stores from Singapore. Founder, Kevin Ong experimented with recipes for 2 years before he opened the first store, soon it became a hit and now they are all over the world.

I actually passed by a few time, but from far away, I thought Chewy Junior was a kids clothing store…clearly I was wrong. A few weeks later, M tells me about this new cream puff place that sells out everyday. His coworkers actually tried coming here 3 times for cream puffs, but they seem to have some production issues. When they sell out, they close early…so you may want to call ahead of time.

In the store, there is one section of chocolate filled cream puffs with different toppings:

Chocolate Oreo Crunch
Chocolate Zebra
Chocolate Almond Crunch
Double Chocolate crunch

Their other display case has the ones that are vanilla cream filled:

Blueberry Cheese
Apple Cheese
Strawberry Cheese
Almond Sweetheart
Neoploitan

Each cream puff ranges from $2.75-$3.25 a piece. If you get a dozen like how we did, it can get quite pricey. We ended up spending a little under $40 for these 12.

Apple Cheese Cream Puff has the vanilla cream filling inside of the cream puff, with a cheesy ring on top surrounding the apple topping. At first bite I really didn’t like the combination of the vanilla cream and the cheese. It just made it taste like it was spoiled.

Blueberry Cheese Creampuff had the same filling. M and I both hated this one too. It wasn’t good and the cream puff was soft and not crisp.

Double Chocolate Crunch cream puff is filled with chocolate cream, then dipped in chocolate, and topped with crunchy chocolate balls. The chocolate versions are slightly better than the vanilla ones.

Chocolate Zebra quite similar to the double chocolate crunch cream puff. Meh. The cream tasted like chocolate pudding.

Overall, I did not like any of their cream puffs. I would much prefer going to Beta 5 or Bearded Papa. As they are new, they are probably still working out a few kinks.

We Rate Chewy Junior: