Baked Goods
Andrea's Gerrard Street Bakery
Andrea's Gerrard Street Bakery is located in the heart of East Chinatown, of all places. "People said to me, 'Really, Chinatown?'" Andrea Mut says of her friends' and family's reaction to her new homestyle bake shop. "But actually, the community has been really great. There are some people, like the woman who owns Bill's Lobster down the street; she's in here all the time getting bags of treats for her kids."
Those treats include all sorts of baked specialties regularly on hand at Andrea's, which include her "grandmother's recipe" butter tarts ($3.00), chocolate chip, spiced ginger, and other varieties of cookies ($1.75), and several types of "wee cakes" such as her signature cheesecake made with Monforte chevre cheese ($6.00).
Andrea's Bakery opened less than two weeks ago, though she has more than a decade of experience in the baking world. Having studied pastry-making at George Brown, Andrea has since worked at Cafe Belong at the Evergreen Brick Works. When she made the decision recently to open up her own shop, she knew she wanted something close to home in the east end.
"The rent here is very reasonable," she says. "There's arguably just as much foot traffic here as down at Dundas or Queen, but there you're going to be paying twice as much."
Andrea says that her landlady was particularly keen on having something "different" in the space. "She was really encouraging," Andrea says. "She said the community would embrace something different, and it has."
Along with her baked goods, Andrea offers drip coffee from ChocoSol (she also uses ChocoSol chocolate for her baked goods) and Rufino for her espresso drinks.
And for something a little more substantial, the shop prepares its "streetcar" sandwiches ($6.85) fresh each day, which strike me as a cross between a calzone and a panino. Essentially, Andrea takes fillings such as pulled pork or roasted chicken, asparagus and brie, wraps them in bread dough, and sets them to bake. "Something easy to eat on the streetcar," she says. "And I was really surprised that no one else was using the name."
I'm in the mood for something sweet, however, so I opt for double chocolate chili cookie. The cookie is perhaps a bit more crumbly than chewy, with a definite chili kick and sophisticated (rather than sweet) chocolate flavour. It's definitely a grown-up take on a traditional cookie.
Andrea says she might consider expanding her pastry menu to include a few gluten-free options, though that will depend on demand. For now, she'll be rolling out plenty of streetcar sandwiches and chili chocolate cookies every day from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to six p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to six p.m. on weekends.
Photos by Jesse Milns
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All the best!
Will be back often!
baked goods - tasty but a bit overpriced. not expensive, just overpriced as in not worth it.
the space does look very lovely and the decor and renos were great.
overall, not too impressed. gentrify elsewhere.
Andrea is doing just that and the response she has received has been excellent for the time she has been open.
So, to "Kayte", I will say this: Why don't you take your business and your negative attitude to one of the many big-box retailers that take up valuable retail space here in town. There you will find the cheap baked goods that you so obviously crave.
It amazes me that people pay Telus or Rogers $300 for a poorly made cell phone but will complain (and post) when a handmade all-butter croissant costs over $3.00. WTF!
As for big-box service, I'm certain you will squirm as you are waited on by a minimum wage monkey who doesn't know or care anything about their low-end job or you as a paying customer.
I believe that you, "Kayte", are probably just another acne-covered woman with an unsatisfactory life, almost no sex, most likely overweight, a zero for a boyfriend, and a J-O-B for a career.
So for you, it makes you "feel" better to criticize and slam others who are actually making a contribution to their neighbourhood, not by gentrifying it, but by working hard and providing a new welcoming retail space.
So in conclusion Kayte, let me offer you this bit of advice (and I am trying to exercise restraint with my comments):
Grow up, look at yourself and instead of adopting this ultra-negative creepy attitude, try to look on the bright side of life and make a positive contribution to your life and your city.
And do something about that acne.
This ugly personal and insulting attack just labels you as a crusty, socially dis-functional, ignorant fellow who still is suffering sexuality issues and who's only real friend is his dog.
One quick note: the website listed is just the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AndreasGerrardStBakery), but from that page you can find the actual website: http://andreasbakery635.com/. The menu on there looks fantastic!