Bon Appetit’s Real Pumpkin Spice Latte is the real deal. Since we don’t have an espresso machine, we used the PSL purée for a milky café au lait*. I already drank two. *Café au lait is basically a latte, but instead of espresso you would use very, very strong French roast coffee with a lot of steamed…… Continue reading Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Purée
Category: Breakfast and Brunch
Montreal: Boulangerie Hof Kelsten
Another great Mile-End bakery and cafe in Montreal. The breads are not as varied as at Boulangerie Guillaume, but the open space and good coffee makes it a nice stop for a croissant break. As it turns out, owner and baker Jeffrey Finkelstein's breads can also be found in notable Montreal restaurants such as Joe… Continue reading Montreal: Boulangerie Hof Kelsten
Peameal Bacon and Egg Waffle Sandwich
Breakfast sandwiches come in many shapes and sizes. While our perennial favourite is the–please forgive us–McDonald’s breakfast sandwich, I’ve become partial to the wafflewich. It’s not an original idea, but it’s been one we’ve been daydreaming about for quite a while now. You have the peameal bacon, it’s salty and it’s meaty with crispy caramelized…… Continue reading Peameal Bacon and Egg Waffle Sandwich
Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Poached Egg & Frico
One of the most beautiful things about a poached egg, or a fried egg, is its amazing ability to turn the sparest of plates into a proper meal. Your salad needs something extra? Top it with an egg. Pancakes or waffles looking a bit lonely? Fried eggs will make it better. In this case, my…… Continue reading Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Poached Egg & Frico
Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Cheesecake
I had Uncle Tetsu’s cheesecake! And it was good. The secret is to line up at eight in the morning. EIGHT IN THE MORNING. Even then, my friend only waited a mere 45 minutes — as opposed to the minimum two hours. So there you go, that was a pro-tip for your next attempt at…… Continue reading Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Cheesecake
Homemade Croissants 1.2
My quest for homemade delicious butter bombs continues. I made this batch of croissants for Canada Day. The whole process took about two days, but I’m starting to think it may be worth extending it to three. I’m a bit disappointed with this attempt, because I easily could have avoided the silly mistakes I made: My…… Continue reading Homemade Croissants 1.2
Tomato Tart with Spinach Pesto
Pesto is great to have under your repertoire. It can be whipped up in five minutes and flavoured with just about anything you like. For a bright verdant green pesto, I like adding spinach, as well as a few red chilies for a bit of a kick. I usually use pesto for pastas, and occasionally…… Continue reading Tomato Tart with Spinach Pesto
Spiced Granola with Cardamom and Nutmeg
There are times for extravagant breakfasts and there are times when cold, milky granola bowls are just want you need. Spiced with just a little bit of cardamom and nutmeg this granola mix smells absolutely amazing as it bakes with just enough hint of the spices as you eat without feeling too overpowered by them.
Homemade Croissants 1.0
Croissants have been on my list of pastries to perfect for the longest time. My third attempt, which is what you’re seeing here, is leaps and bounds above the first two batches. They’re closer to my idea of the perfect croissant, but obviously…there’s always room for improvement. Nonetheless, considering it’s only my third try –…… Continue reading Homemade Croissants 1.0
The Tempered Room
A pastry shop in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood full of rustic charm, and surprise, surprise — good coffee from Sam James. The exposed bricks, wood accents, and beautiful bouquets make it a lovely homey space for relaxing and catching up with friends. The Tempered Room 1374 Queen Street West | Website
Three Hour Brunch Friend 