I have a confession.
I’m n absolute slave to my sweet tooth! Nothing makes me happier than biting into a sweet and decadent pain au chocolat (that’s French for my favourite – a chocolate croissant!)
But not all golden n’ flakey treats are created equal. Some bakers have an uncanny ‘special touch’ that can elevate a croissant from “tasty” to “OMG”!
Emmer Bakery & Restaturant is one of those places.
Photo courtesy of @emmertoronto
You can expect lots of drooling and excitement when it comes to the delicious fare at Emmer. Biking by, I always see line-ups of salivating customers, queuing even before the doors open. It’s been 3 months since their official openeing, and – like the lines – the fan fare is only increasing!
Photo courtesy of thestar.com
Philip Haddad, who owns Emmer, is a prosthodontist by day and passionate baker by night with a rabid social media following (particularly back when he was giving away his extra sougdough bread loaves via Instagram.) He once said that he has no baking secret beyond simple recipes and carefully sourced, quality ingredients. But, as anyone who has ever tried to bake a criossant or tart from scratch can tell you, Haddad is being EXTREMELY modest about his talent. He is constantly experimenting and improving upon his recipes – with delicious results!
Quality and freshness are of the utmost importance at Emmer. So much so, that Emmer’s team of bakers are put in the spotlight at the front of the house where we can all witness skilled hands knead, shape, twist, and glaze. Breads are made fresh throughout the day; 9 times out of 10 your loaf will still need to cool before you tear into it! The rest of their menu items sometimes rotate or sell out within a few hours, so you’ll need to be flexible when it comes time to order. But there’s always something new and exquisite to taste!
Photo courtesy of @emmertoronto
What else do I love about Emmer Bakery? Their philosophy is based on happiness.
Haddad wants his staff to have a happy life beyond their work, so instead of baking all night to prepare food for customers the next day, Haddad assigns his staff regular daytime hours so that they too can spend time with their families at night.
After all, happy staff will make for happy customers!
Urbaneer Tip:
When you go, you may feel overwhelmed by all the mouth-watering creations around you. So here are the must-haves that we believe you will love:
1. Make sure you grab their famous Sourdough bread that has a delicate crust on the outside, and a soft doughy inside, perfect for any type of sandwich – or toasted with just a little butter and jam.
Photo courtesy of @emmertoronto
2. Next on the list, you must try both their blackcurrant chocolate croissant (made with Soma Chocolatemaker) and pistachio croissant. I promise: you will thank me.
Photo courtesy of @emmertoronto
3. If you’re still hungry, or buying for a group, pick up their savoury egg brioches (flavours change daily).
Photo courtesy of @emmertoronto
We also recommend that you keep your eyes peeled on their Instagram page @emmertoronto as they often post exclusive daily creations.
Good news! Emmer now offers lunch items (think: sandwiches, pasta, etc.) which you can happily enjoy on their new covered patio.
Emmer Bakery is open from Thursday to Sunday from 9AM-4PM. Make sure to arrive when the doors open if you have a particular treat in mind!
161 Harbord St.,
Toronto ON M5S 1H1
(416) 922-1626
Treat yourself to some warm and flakey happiness – you deserve it!
Food tastes best when it’s easy, doesn’t it? We’ve all become addicted to Uber Eats because we get restaurant quality meals without putting in any effort or travelling in order to eat. This neighbourhood is filled with beautiful homes. We recently had the privilege of selling a gorgeous 1bed 1bath loft townhouse at 200 Clinton St – The Button Factory – which you can take a peek at here: An Authentic Brick & Beam Loft Townhouse In Little Italy’s Button Factory‘ Now Sold!
Thanks for reading!
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