Some of my fondest memories as a child are walking into the house after hours for playing outside only to be welcomed by the smell of homemade bread baking in the oven. Even better was the enjoyment of having a piece of bread, still piping hot from the oven, slathered with butter. I could not live in a world without bread. Wheat bread, bagels, baguettes, sweetbreads, pitas … the love affair is endless!

So as you can imagine, the focus of my next few blogs is bread. This includes recipes and some of my favourite bread ’emporiums’.

So for all of you bread lovers out there, this one’s for you!

St. John’s Bakery:

I have always loved the bread from St. John’s Bakery. I often pick up a loaf at a local market, my favourite is the Kalamata Olive and Onion. The other day I was walking down Queen Street, and I stumbled upon the actual bakery. What a treat! If you have not been there, it’s just a tiny little shop with this mural of St. John (I’m assuming) on the side.

As soon as I walked into the bakery my glasses fogged up from the warmth of all the bread that was being baked. I think I must have died and gone to bread heaven!

I picked up a baguette and a loaf of marble sourdough. The baguette was for the boys, and true to form, it did not make it home intact … I nibbled the end.

And a super big thank you to Ken for welcoming me into his shop. I cannot wait to go back and try some of the scones!