Hidden away on good ol’ Dupont just east of Spadina, this little pastry shop has proven that location isn’t always everything. With it’s big bay windows and open floor plan, this tiny patisserie gets to play in the big leagues of the dessert scene of Toronto. Although it’s lacking any kind of seating, the place offers a variety of treats that will make up for any of its shortcomings. It even has a little fireplace in the corner of the room to make the place feel warm and cozy.
The cakes displayed show immaculate handiwork (this coming from a beginner in this field who couldn’t even compare personal outputs) and intricate piping designs. Also on the menu is a very short variety of viennoiserie (all selling for about $1-2 for bite sized pieces), various tarts and macarons. In order to be fair, I will say that the visual appeal of everything in the store is overwhelming and I felt a serious need to buy one of each. The macarons tasted fresh and the variety of flavours was impressive, however for their minuscule size I wouldn’t pay $2.20 (if willing you’re to part with your money, I recommend trying the salted caramel for a very nice flavour). Their lemon tart was exactly that, no pretenses and not too much added sugar, therefore making the dessert very fresh and light. Unfortunately, their raspberry and sour cherry tart was a little bland for my taste but it did give me a great preview of their wonderful frangipane (means almond filling, found in all desserts from cakes to tarts).
Overall, the place screams passion! The pastry chef has been receiving a slew of wonderful reviews and I’m sure she’ll continue to do so in the near future. It’s definitely a place worth checking out if you’re in the neighbourhood!
*Here’s their website if you want to feast your eyes on some yummy treats http://www.frangipane.ca/index.html
