Sugar Rush in Ottawa

Ottawa, the city where I discovered the magic of toe warmers. Winter in Ottawa really is no joke!

Ottawa has a reputation for its brutal winters but one of my favourite moments from this trip was actually lining up with my friends in the freezing cold for beaver tails and hot chocolate at the Byward Maket. In that moment I realized the true meaning of friendship. I mean, not many people would freeze their faces off just to help me satisfy my beaver tail craving! Even Ottawa winters can’t keep me from food adventuring!

This was my 2nd time visiting Ottawa and food baby enjoyed both visits thoroughly. I was hesitant about the food scene in Ottawa at first but there are actually lots of yummy places and hidden gems!

I love discovering a city through its food scene so I ate and I ate, and then I ate some more. I wanted to share my top 3 favourite dessert places because if there’s anything I love more than actually eating, it’s to force feed people the food that I love. These places are definitely worth checking out!

3. Art-Is-In Bakery 

📍250 City Centre Ave #112, Ottawa, ON K1R 1C7

This spacious, almost warehouse like, bakery offers a wide variety of baked goods and beverages. The cronuts are a must try! I just about licked the plate when I was done. I paired it with the earl grey tea latte and it was the perfect breakfast combination in my opinion!

2. Suzy Q 

📍969 Wellington St W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2X7

These doughnuts are as yummy as they are pretty! So light and fluffy. They look humongo but I can easily polish it off by myself because it’s so airy!

I love the large selection of flavours, including their “healthy” version of doughnuts like the carrot one in the picture. I love it when bakeries help me consume my daily recommended dose of vegetables. Suzy Q cares!

1. The Cupcake Lounge  

📍6 Byward Market Square, Ottawa, ON K1N 9B8

This is actually a place that I stumbled across from exploring the Byward Market. I’m so happy I did! The cupcake is moist and baked to perfection. The frosting itself is not overly sweet and the cupcake to frosting ratio is just right. I came in this cute little bakery with the intention of just having a cupcake for breakfast (yes, I eat cupcakes for breakfast). Let’s just say I ended up eating a lot more than just one!

The earl grey cupcake is my favourite! I actually got an extra one to eat on my way back to Toronto.

Over all I really enjoyed my time in Ottawa. How can I not when there are so many food places for me to eat at when I need to escape the freezing cold. The winter may be harsh but ice skating on the Rideau Canal is a pretty fun experience! But maybe next time I’ll visit in the summer time so I don’t freeze my face off.

Until next time Ottawa! I’ll be back for more food adventures!

Little pebbles

Name: Little Pebbles

Location: 160 Baldwin St. Store #4, Toronto, ON M5T 3K7

Website: http://little-pebbles.com/

This cute little cafe is located at the Kensington Market and it offers amazing Japanese desserts. There's not a lot of seating here but they do have super cute take out containers which, in my opinion, make up for the lack of seating.

I was first drawn to Little Pebbles by their matcha lattes and chiffon cakes. They continue to add new and delicious creations to their menu. I was so excited when I saw the black sesame latte on their menu! Definitely worth a try if you're a fan of black sesame (I recommend having it sweetened though).

The matcha chiffon cake is my go-to dessert here. It’s so light and fluffy it’s like biting into a fluffy cloud (at least that’s what I imagine a cloud would taste like). I’ve gotten the matcha chiffon cake for a birthday before and it was so spongy I thought the candle was going to bounce off when we put it in the cake! It’s definitely my favourite cake here and it never disappoints!

The strawberry rolled cake is refreshing and the cream itself is not too sweet. I really like the fresh strawberry chunks in the cake, it balances out the sweetness and adds a nice texture to the cake. The fresh strawberries also helps justify having that second slice of cake. Thought process: there are fruits in the cake —> I’m eating the fruits —> conclusion: I’m having a healthy snack!

Ever since I had my very first Mont Blanc dessert in Paris I’ve been on the lookout for a delicious Mont Blanc in Toronto. There's a little twist to the Mont Blanc at Little Pebbles. It’s a strawberry sakura Mont Blanc! The pretty pink purée is sakura (aka cherry blossom) flavoured and there’s a full strawberry on the inside covered with a custard cream. I love aesthetically pleasing desserts and this is just so beautifully done. It was almost too pretty to eat (not that that’s ever stopped me before).

Little pebbles also offer cakes for pick up (pre-order 48 hours prior to pickup). 

Duo Patisserie & Cafe

Warning: this place will make you want to order one of everything!

I’ve been to Duo many times and each time I leave here with an extremely happy food baby.  

My favourite danish here is the strawberry rose. I’m always hesitant to eat floral flavored treats because they’re usually too overpowering and end up tasting like perfume. However, this strawberry rose danish is perfect and the flavors go so well together. The danish itself is so buttery and flaky - just how I like them!

After taste testing the many delicious cakes here, I’d have to say the Yuco (coconut, yuzu cheesecake, yuzu mango confit on a crispy crust) is my go to cake at Duo. It’s so light and refreshing and the yuzu is not too tart. 

Duo has a bright and minimalist interior design with a very relaxing atmosphere. I love coming here early in the mornings to write and stuff my face with yummy pastries (yes, I eat cake(s) for breakfast). To be fair, I do try to get the fruity pastries so I can get my daily dose of fruits.

Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie

Such an amazing French restaurant located at the distillery district

I've been a fan of Cluny ever since I discovered their chocolate croissants. This time I decided to try their brunch menu. I had such an amazing experience I actually contemplated moving to one of the condos nearby so I can eat here every day! Apparently all it takes is good food/mimosas to make me relocate.

Everything from the decor, music, service, and most of all their delicious food, remind me of France. Even the waitress addressed me as "mademoiselle". I half expected my cutlery to start singing "be our guest" (this may have been the effects of the mimosa).

In the dining section there's a whole island of just fresh bread and an assortment of pastries. I had to resist the urge to grab one of everything! The garlic rosemary bread is definitely my favorite and I highly recommend it! 

For brunch, I tried the baked vanilla and chocolate french toast (emphasis on the chocolate - they definitely did not skimp on the chocolate part). I love the vanilla and cinnamon combo in the french toast. It felt like I was having dessert for breakfast which just happens to be my favorite kind of breakfast.

Brunch tip: restaurants are not legally allowed to serve alcohol until 11:00 AM. Don't make the same mistake I did and try to order a mimosa before 11:00 AM. Luckily I had a non-judgmental waitress and I still got my mimosa (after 11:00 AM that is).

Can't wait to come back and try more from their menu!