With the final days of the HST break coinciding with Valentine's Day, my browsing partner and I had deemed it unwise to dine out for the Hallmark holiday. For starters, I was none too fond of the supposed "specials" that many dining establishments claimed to be exclusive. Moreover, reservations tend to fill up quickly, meaning exacerbated chaos and, usually, subpar service. The tax break would likely incite a surge in customer volumes as well.
A total of four cake slices were ordered in advance for pickup, with the assortment left to the decision of my browsing partner. By using the dedicated mobile app, users would also receive a complimentary croissant with their first order. That said, I did not personally lay eyes on this Raspberry Almond Croissant, valued at $6.89 before tax.
The quad spanned the following:
- Red Velvet Cake Slice; $10.79
- New York Style Cheesecake Slice; $8.99
- Chocolate Ganache Cream Cake Slice; $9.19
- Blueberry Yogurt Cake Slice; $8.29
Admittedly surprising was the omission of the bakery's signature Strawberry Soft Cream from the selection. The rationale was that the specimen appeared "too basic", to which my response was "The more basic, the more to learn.". Seeing as I had crafted my own Strawberry Shortcake in the past, it would have been interesting to compare and contrast the slices, especially the soft cream component (aka my greatest weakness).
Red Velvet
In unveiling the items, the sight of Red Velvet caused my face to scrunch ever so slightly. Removing the acetate sheet and cake board was somewhat challenging, for the North American favourite was saturated in both hue and moisture level. Exceptionally porous were the sponge layers, as noted in their distinctly large voids. In spite of their thickness though, the cake was far from dense. Intensely red sponge, sliced strawberries, and a strawberry-flavoured cream were alternated to form the three-layer concoction. A duo of glazed strawberries and chocolate decoration adorned the surface; the latter supplied greater enjoyment, for the fruit was out-of-season, bland, and even a tad bitter.
In unveiling the items, the sight of Red Velvet caused my face to scrunch ever so slightly. Removing the acetate sheet and cake board was somewhat challenging, for the North American favourite was saturated in both hue and moisture level. Exceptionally porous were the sponge layers, as noted in their distinctly large voids. In spite of their thickness though, the cake was far from dense. Intensely red sponge, sliced strawberries, and a strawberry-flavoured cream were alternated to form the three-layer concoction. A duo of glazed strawberries and chocolate decoration adorned the surface; the latter supplied greater enjoyment, for the fruit was out-of-season, bland, and even a tad bitter.
Both of us remarked on the sliced strawberries hindering the process of obtaining clean forkfuls. Despite bearing a thickness no greater than 1 cm, the berry slices would remain intact even under the pressure of an eating utensil, consequently dislodging the neighbouring layers with their removal.
This minor gripe aside, I concluded the creation to be the most enjoyable of the quad, for its fruity essence offered a refreshing take on the typically satiating Red Velvet. In particular, the thin-yet-uniform layer of strawberry-infused cream had succeeded in distinguishing the cake from the others. There was also an underlying note of savouriness, reminiscent of cream cheese frosting, though its source undetectable.
New York Style Cheesecake
"My fork went through without resistance!" I had exclaimed at the time of sampling. Known to be dense, creamy, and unapologetically rich, Paris Baguette's take on the classic New York Cheesecake featured an unexpectedly slim and uneven layer of graham crust. A single strawberry slice, swirl of cream cheese, and chocolate topper finished the creation, offering minimal resemblance to the mixed berry compote (909) and whipped cream topping of the renowned classic, thus a disappointing decrease in textural variance.
"My fork went through without resistance!" I had exclaimed at the time of sampling. Known to be dense, creamy, and unapologetically rich, Paris Baguette's take on the classic New York Cheesecake featured an unexpectedly slim and uneven layer of graham crust. A single strawberry slice, swirl of cream cheese, and chocolate topper finished the creation, offering minimal resemblance to the mixed berry compote (909) and whipped cream topping of the renowned classic, thus a disappointing decrease in textural variance.
Following the consumption of a congee-forward supper, cheesecake was too heavy for my liking. Beyond lacking a distinguishable crust, the overall cross-section was devoid of depth, given that identical ingredients had been use throughout. For those hankering for the creaminess of restaurant-style baked cheesecake, this version would not quench those cravings. Rather, it was a sweeter, cake-forward approach.
Chocolate Ganache Cream Cake
Even at its time of unveiling, the decorative macaron had threatened detachment. The cake was dry, likely having been assembled at least two days prior. Cracks had begun to propagate through the topmost layer of ganache, while an ominous fault line emerged between the filling and sponge. Aside from these apparent indicators of premature preparation, the slice was quite delicious. Addictive and luxurious it was not, however it appeased the desires of chocolate lovers with a mildly sweet tiered creation.
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I appreciated the unexpected crunch of chocolate pearls folded within the bottommost layer of ganache and that individual layers were discernible, but would advocate for removal of the fragile, excessively cloying macaron.
Blueberry Yogurt Cake
My browsing partner's first choice amusingly assumed my last. Instead of including at least one chiffon cake, a Blueberry Yogurt Slice made its way into the mix. This variation was a rare sighting, for, based on app data, it was not offered at all locations.
My browsing partner's first choice amusingly assumed my last. Instead of including at least one chiffon cake, a Blueberry Yogurt Slice made its way into the mix. This variation was a rare sighting, for, based on app data, it was not offered at all locations.
This slice was my least favourite for several reasons. Flavour payoff was nominal, in spite of the range of ingredients used. The sponge saw an excess of simple syrup being applied, rendering them waterlogged and sugary without dimension. The presence of moisture had also prompted bleeding of the blueberry yogurt layer, tinting the top and middle layers a greyish-blue colour. Once again, the sliced strawberries hindered smooth consumption. The fruit arranged on the surface were tasteless, further subtracting from the overall harmony. Although the subtle tartness of yogurt powder was pleasant, the slice depicted a dearth in cohesiveness overall.
With regard to packaging, the boxes were found to be sturdy but excessive. Valentine's-specific accents had not been incorporated into the royal blue exterior, contrary to expectations. Two cakes were housed within each box, with each cake was wrapped in an acetate sheet and placed atop a triangular cake board with flaps to facilitate transfer. A "Peel Here" sticker had been affixed the loose end of each acetate sheet, likely as an attempt to assist customers. I found this method largely counterintuitive, however, as the additional pressure required to remove the sticker risked greater damage to the cake than simply wrapping the acetate sheet tightly along the perimeter, as I usually do.
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The cakes were passable, but hardly memorable - save their extravagant price tags. My deductions lay consistent with past impressions of their New York location.
A staggering 30 cm of snowy precipitation descended on the GTA and neighbouring parts of province come weekend. For most of the Family Day long weekend, residents would opt to stay local - shovelling was strenuous enough, but dealing with chaotic roads, poor visibility, and appalling driver behaviour was certainly worse.
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I'd make one essential Loblaws stop before hurriedly returning home.
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The short-lived excursion saw a prescription pickup, milk and coffee restocking, Honey Butter Lays, a seemingly endless shortage of natural cocoa powder, and snow accumulating quicker than it could be cleared.
When nightfall came, I realized that the fridge was nearing depletion. Instead of the other occupant of the house investing efforts to prevent sustenance inadequacies, the responsibility had somehow fallen into my lap. Without a second thought, a Pizzaville order was placed swiftly, taking advantage of the very last day of the HST break.
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There were two ongoing promotions: 12 wings for $12 and two complimentary soft drink bottles with every purchase over $25. The Honey Garlic Wings saw a decidedly enthusiastic response, for the bite-sized morsels were juicy, tender, and unthinkably flavourful. Its accompanying Honey Garlic sauce was admittedly superior to that of Swiss Chalet's as well.
A custom 11" Xtra Thin Pizza with ham, chicken breast, pineapple, roasted red pepper, pesto and tomato sauce, and New York-style "Cup N Char" Pepperoni set me back $26.30. The specimen was undoubtedly pricier than the run-of-the-mill Dominos, but reasonably so. Each slice boastied a plentiful portion of gourmet ingredients and a delightfully thin, crispy crust that withstood the weight of such toppings. The Pesto and Cup N Char Pepperoni embraced a bit of heat, though not an intolerable amount even for yours truly.
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After yet another blast of snow, I set out to carve a path for my pending Amazon delivery. Reallocating layers and layers of fluffy snow was far more exhaustive a task than envisioned. Once the walkway was cleared and salted, the side door followed.
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Unfortunately, I was ultimately unable to retrieve our organics bin for disposal. The snowfall had not only reached but exceeded the height of the deck! Barely making a dent in the waist-deep frenzy of solidified precipitation, the white flag was raised for the time being. Subsequent attempts would need to be made to unearth the vessel in which our frozen compostable waste resided.
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