A Toronto dessert business is finally back to satisfying sweet teeth across the city after two years in limbo — but its new location is far from your typical bakery.
From the day she opened her first shop in 2013, Christinn Hua had a hit on her hands with Millie Desserts.
Dealing in picture-perfect mille crepe cakes in unlikely flavours like yuzu and matcha, proof of popping by Millie Desserts became a sought-after feather in the social media caps of many a Toronto foodie.
The concept only grew in popularity from its humble Kensington Market beginnings, going on to spawn sister locations in the Entertainment District and Markham. Frozen Millie Desserts cakes stocked freezers at T&T Supermarket.
But then, the cards began to fall. First, facing the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hua closed down her Markham location. Later, she was forced to close the Kensington one and, finally, in 2024, everything came to a virtual halt when she pulled the plug on the Entertainment District cake shop, too.
In the years since, Millie Desserts has existed in a limited capacity, serving slices at Yueh Tung and cooking up custom orders, until recently, when Hua finally secured new digs.
The new spot looks significantly different from the bright and airy patisseries you may have come to expect from Millie Desserts, though.
Nowadays, you can find Hua serving Millie Desserts out of a window at 451 Adelaide St. W. It's a tight operation — both in terms of the type of ship Hua runs and the physical space — but any opportunity to scoop up a slice of mille crepe or cheesecake is welcome.
Is this the beginning of a Millie Desserts renaissance in Toronto? It sure is sweet to think so.
Hector Vasquez