Epi Breads Ltd.
1526 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4G 3B4

416-488-1952
www.epibreads.ca

I drive by this place now and then and have always wanted to go inside. Today, after an early morning rock bathing treatment, I decided to head on over for some freshly baked bread.

Being a carb-lover, I’m always excited to try new bakeries out. So as soon as I stepped inside epi breads, I was pleasantly surprised at their extensive bread selection. Granted, it took me a while to figure out where their freshly baked loaves were. The store is actually quite large, with a cafe filling up half the premises.

I made my way over to the north side of the store, where they displayed all their freshly baked breads. At a mere 2 hours after opening, some of their goods were on the brink of selling out… although I suspect more was coming, as right behind the counter, trays and trays full of freshly baked bread and goods were waiting to be showcased on the shelves.

A woman behind the counter greeted me with a smile and asked what she could get for me. Naturally, I asked her what their most popular loaves were. She mentioned the multi-grain flax, and the pecan fruit loaves were their popular ones. I looked on the counter top and noticed a plate with bite-sized morsels of bread, which looked very much like the pecan fruit loaf sitting on the shelf. I asked her, and sure enough, it was. I took a piece and enjoyed the sweetness of the fruit that contrasted nicely with the flavour of the bread.

After much thinking, I ordered 1 butter croissant, 1 almond croissant, 1 white cheddar and chive scone, and 1 loaf of pecan fruit ($6.75). Totaling $13.47 in all, I made my way out the door, before quickly scanning for anything else I may have been interested in. I noticed at the last minute that they did have a small selection of organic tea leaves for sale as well.

The outcome:
I have to say, the croissants were wonderfully baked, with crunchy crust, moist innards, and best of all, not overly buttery. I was in fact quite surprised at how little the butter taste was. My fingers weren’t all buttered up as well, after handling the croissants. I enjoyed this croissant quite a bit, and was just as satiated with the almond croissant. I love a good almond croissant, and this one, with its non-butteryness, gave just the right balance. These are likely the best croissants I’ve tasted in a long time.

The pecan fruit loaf also didn’t disappoint. Although the crust isn’t overly crunchy, the innards were moist and springy, and with the abundance of fruit inside, this was also a great eat. The varying kinds of fruit was a nice welcome as it improves the flavour profile of the overall bread.

Another thing that impressed me was the large variety of ingredients they used for all of their breads and baked goods. With a variety of herbs, cheeses, nuts, and fruits, there was plenty of selection to choose from.

I have a feeling the next time I drive by this bakery, I will have a strong urge to go inside again.