Baked Goods
Miss Cora's Kitchen
Miss Cora's Kitchen is a bright, cozy bakery and take-out spot tucked under an orange awning in Kensington Market. Miss Cora DeVries herself presides over the warm wood counter with a welcoming grin and friendly, neighbourhoodsy small talk.
My eye is caught - nay, captivated - by a tray of Mini Chocolate Cupcakes on the counter. They're gorgeous; dark velvety little things, topped with a riot of confetti sprinkles. The cake is fluffy, deeply chocolatey, and generously topped with thick ganache frosting, yummers. Though small, the obvious quality of the ingredients nicely justifies the $1.50 price tag. Beside them, Mini Carrot Cake Cupcakes (also $1.50) are another delight- moist cake with a subtle crunch of carrot and coconut threads, capped with fluffy, creamy white frosting.
Moroccan Spiced Nuts ($4) are slightly sweet, with a complex, spicy flavour that hints at cinnamon, cumin, chili, and who-knows-what else (Miss Cora wouldn't say). There's a sample dish on the counter, and they're so tasty, and the atmosphere is so friendly, that I have to remind myself not to up-end the entire dish into my mouth.
In service to you, blogTO readers, I pick a whole box of goodies. And good they certainly are. Vanilla-laced biscotti have the perfect texture, soft enough to eat dry, but crisp enough to dunk. I generally distrust macaroons, but Cora's are fluffy and delicious. And seven-layer bars ($3) include layers I can only identify as Chewy, Tasty, Yummy, Chocolatey, Sticky, Sweetie, and Eatie. Everything is impressively delicious, and soon I begin to experience a pleasantly addling sugar buzz.
Miss Cora's has already been featured on blogTO for her butter tarts ($2.50), so of course I'm totally obligated to try one. They look average, but taste fantastic. The thick, short pastry encases plump raisins or crisp pecans, and, in the centre, I find the hallmark of a great butter tart: a flood of light caramel syrup that runs out when you bite in.
Miss Cora's Kitchen also features $3 pizza slices with gourmet toppings (today, Chicken Pesto with Oven-Roasted Tomatoes and Moroccan-braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions), and a fridge full of savoury take-away goodies, including salads, sandwiches, and ready-made dinners in the $8 price range. Miss Cora's Catering options include hors d'ouevres, savoury tarts, and homemade breads. Cora mentioned plans to expand the menu even further this summer; and man, I can't wait to go back.
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<3 : Sammie
What a Page 71 moment--so much buildup, such a letdown. The famed chocolate chip cookie tasted slightly stale and dry. Too thick for my liking and it was boring: just plain dough with chips? Where are the nuts or oats? Not worth $2.50.
I won't go out of my way again to visit.
What a major let down.
Prime space.
Shit baked goods.
Some of you guys are the glass is empty when it's full types aren't you?
Then there are the see someone working hard and then say whatever or do whatever you can do to make em look bad somehow. Jealousy, you take the plunge and be brave enough to lay it all on the line.
Nice folks here, working hard. Support them or you will all be eating some of the crap the rest of you say is great....which sorry to say probably isn't.