Grahame's Bakery

My friend Peggi and I headed to Kemptville yesterday to pick up some little trees and we decided to find the old town of Kemptville and see what it was like. 

 We came across Grahame's Bakery that actually bakes using a wooden oven!

 The place is around the corner from the street...pretty unassuming looking.

 As you round the corner, we noticed lots of wood!

 Loved the old Grahame's Bakery sign, tucked in the corner.

 We opened the door and wow! The smell was amazing!

We were lucky and owner Debbie Wilson showed us the enormous oven that ran along the back wall...

...lined in fire bricks. I forgot to ask Debbie how they regulated the temperature. Gak!

 The baked good were all over the place...donuts galore!

 Peggi got some lemon-filled donuts for her husband.

 I bought an assortment of cookies. (Yummy)!!

 Loves of bread of every description.

 These beauties were baked to be served at The Brigadoon Restaurant, just down the road in Oxford Mills.

 I love this stack of trays of goodies, waiting to be put on the shelves.

 And I had to ask what the heck this contraption was. Seems it takes the dough and separates it out evenly for making rolls. I always wondered how rolls were always the same size!

A great day and a great find. Peggi and I bought bread and scones, donuts and cookies. What a serendipitous bit of luck that we happened upon Grahame's Bakery. Can't wait to go back!

Grahame's Bakery, 115 Clothier St. E., Kemptville, ON
Phone: 613-258-2317
Website: www.grahamesbakery.com

Big Apple Bakery

 In Colborne, Ontario, an hour or so east of Toronto is the Big Apple Bakery. They make lots of pies.

 So many pies in fact, look at the flour they wheel in on a dolly.

 Their mix master is massive!

I sure could use some of that space to work on my cakes. Check out the size of their prep tables.

The pies are stacked on rolling shelves. The place sure smelled terrific but we only bought a coffee and hit the road again. My late mother loved one of their apple pies that had streusel on top of it but I didn't grab one this time. Next time!

Simply Biscotti

In Ottawa last weekend, Richard and I were in Little Italy and noticed this little bakery.

Richard noticed this sign beside the door and thought it was cute. I love biscotti so figured why not? Let's check it out.

I just about passed out when we got in there. The display case was one of the most fabulous I had ever seen!

Yes, they had biscotti. The place was called Simply Biscotti after all. But, it was so much more.

In that showcase were delectable cannoli...

 ...lemon meringue tarts that looked like an artist made them..

 Almond and pear tarts...

 Coronets filled with vanilla and chocolate cream...

 Fruit tarts galore...

 These ones had fruit sitting in chocolate tarts!

These are covered with almond. What are they? I can't even remember, at this point. I was pretty weak in the knees by then.

 These lobster tails looked too good to be true. Look at those many perfect layers.

These were red velvet and chocolate with cream cheese frosting. By then Richard had passed me the smelling salts and I was coming back to my senses...so these I remember.

The workers were buzzing around making coffee. The place smelled simply wonderful. We were lucky to be there early before the crowds so I could take some good photos.

And to top it all off, one wall featured a huge selection of imported Easter chocolates. Be still my heart.

We each chose a pastry to take home. I wanted the almond pear tart; Richard chose the lemon meringue. We also bought 4 biscotti.

When we got home, we decided to split them so we got a taste of each. Pure heaven.
And the biscotti? Perfection!


If you're in Ottawa, make sure to visit Simply Biscotti. It's simply divine!
354 Preston Street, Ottawa, ON  613-234-5336

Crumbs Bake Shop

My latest favourite TV show is Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. Amazing what you can do with a cupcake! Then I remembered I went to Crumbs when I was in New York City last year. How about we go on a tour together?


First off, let's open the door. Check out the funky handles.


First up. The all-American red, white and blue sprinkled cupcakes, with chocolate and vanilla frosting options.


There are fancy, shmancy pink and purple rose cupcakes.


My personal favourite: Red velvet!


These peanut butter cup cup cakes (get it) look like little radioactive bites.


These PB & J's look like they have cookies pressed into the sides of them. Hmmm.


Neon-coloured lemon and strawberry. I feel like getting out my paints.


Love these little green numbers.


These multi-coloured cakes are called Good Guy. Wonder why? Love how they look.


Never been a big fan of raw cookie dough, but everyone else seems to be. What am I missing?


Caramel apple; now there's something I could sink my teeth into.


I'd have these cappuccino cupcakes with a cup of, er, cappuccino natch.


These candy cupcakes are so silly and fun, covered with m&ms. I'm inspired to bake now. Or paint. Or both!