Cafes
Clafouti
Clafouti, a French bakery on Queen St. West, is the perfect way to kickstart a day off. It's a madhouse on the weekend, jammed with ravenous hordes salivating over perfect, buttery croissants and pains au chocolat. On a weekday, however, the pace is serene. The pleasant shop contains just a few people absently munching the extravagantly good tarts and reading highbrow periodicals.
It's mid-afternoon and they're sold out of my usual favourite (a roast chicken sandwich with bib lettuce and fresh raspberries nestled into a croissant, oh MAN), so instead I opt for my first ever Croque-Monsieur, or "Mister Crispy", essentially a pimped-out ham & grilled cheese sandwich. A cup of strong, dark Balzac's coffee brings my lunch to a comfortable $6.90, and I head out into the sun to eat.
It's a warm, wafty spring day across the street in Trinity-Bellwoods Park, and everyone is limping in new sandals, grinning despite the blisters. Turns out, a croque-moniseur and a coffee make a perfect picnic on a sunny day: thick slices of soft bread, deliciously toasty around the edges, filled with thin-sliced ham, and topped with a cap of melted gruyere cheese.
Inside is a mysterious white layer, which looks like mayo, but isn't. Correct me if you know better, but I think it's sauce de Mornay, and I know it's delicious. It tastes a little like melted bocconcini cheese- mild and creamy, and not at all as overpowering as it looks.
Clafouti is a Toronto mainstay of delicious pastries - a large variety of simple, fresh tarts come in single and family sizes, and the croissants, brioches, and breads are divine. The shop takes its name from the clafoutis, a French dessert similar to a fruit flan, essentially a giant baked pancake stuffed with cherries, and well worth a try.
While you're there, you can also stock up on imported Euro groceries- jams, syrups, candy, and coffee. So next time you have a day off, you can kick it French stylez- this bakery is a perfect place to... loaf. Yeah, I went there.
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http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_23675,00.html
p.s. the sauce in the croque monsieur is indeed bechamel,with swiss cheese on top.
But who am I to judge? I still go there every day.
As I walked away all I could think of was what a waste they'd become melting in the August heat.
food handling is great and consistent! they use tongs to handle their tarts, unlike Queen of Tarts who like to use their bare, unwashed hands (yuck!).
If you're in the mood for a something decent, you're better off at Nadege Patisserie across the street.
Very nice croisant's and to me the staff are much more friendly.
Wagamama pastries is way better, try it.
Nadege is border line stupidity behind the counter.
Great coffee and food and excellent table service.
I went there once when i first moved it, i was not able to explore due to the overcrowded and narrow space lol but then after living around so many bakeries i decided to on a diet...
Recently i went in after getting coffee from white squirel (good coffee horrible service) and fell in LOVE with Clafouti... Good bye diet and hello clafouti!!
love love love their tart.. when i have a tart from nadege i feel like the crust/shell is gonna break my tooth, at clafouti, they melt into your mouth. so yummy, just had one and a roast beef sandwich... love their sandwiches and they are super decently priced...
i cannot believe that ive been living there all this time and i did not fall in love sooner...
their croissant sometimes in the early morning, its still warm from the oven, and they taste amazing...
there is a girl that has been working there for 7 years and she is super friendly. the long hair dude not so much!
TRY it people, Try IT!!!!!
I must say, disappointed after reading a Toronto Star article about Nadege using butter with 84% MF and finding out that is not true...
I will pass on you kind words to Tamara , she has worked for me a while is very dedicated.
Thank you agagin for the love
Olivier , owner/operator