I’ve quite a bit of stuff to blog about, but I could not find my camera to PC cord for a few weeks, and so had zero photos to show for the last while of activity. Just as I was about to order a new cord online, James found it somewhere in the basement where it found itself after a fit of zealous de-cluttering. And all was well in the world.

You ever do that? Clean so well that you never find something again? I swear three quarters of the battle in house cleaning is finding places to put stuff, and not just temporary out of sight solutions either, but proper homes for all the ‘stuff’ that finds its way into our homes. And I’m a pretty zealous thrower-outer - I regularly toss, recycle and donate all sorts of crap that we no longer need and aren’t sure where it came from in the first place.

Anyhow, the other day found me in the Mission area of Calgary, where I managed to hit up not only Cruffs, but Yann Haute Patisserie while waiting for my ride.  Cruffs was closer to my destination so I popped in there for a quick Cream Puff – because I love cream puffs. There is not much to the store -  the counter where magic happens and a row of bar stools facing the huge store window. 

The cream puffs come in two sizes – small and huge, and since I hardly eat sweets I got huge. You know, to compensate.  The shells are pre-baked and filled with cream filling to order – so you get a perfectly creamy treat with no sogginess.  I asked the genleman at the counter what his favorite flavor was, and went with the recommended hazelnut.

The puff was perfectly crispy and tasted pretty good - none of the fake shortening-like flavor you get with supermarket frozen cream puffs, but none of the elusive taste of fresh cream puffs baked with butter. The filling was perfectly balanced blend of creamy and hazelnut, and the whole thing disappeared alarmingly quickly. Then I got one to take home.  Verdict? Perfectly lovely but not craving inducing.

3.5/5

Cruffs

2312A – 4St SW 

Wandering just a bit further, you come to a lovely jolly yellow house off 4th street, and ascending up the steps you end up in a house-turned-bakery that quickly took Calgary by storm, quickly becoming known for their macarons and other baked goods.  And here I have a confession to make. As well as being a bit indifferent towards dessert, I am not the world’s biggest fan of macarons. I’ve tried them a few times, and they just don’t do anything for me. So I blew thirty bucks on other stuff, like the best baguette I’ve tried in Calgary:

And very tasty croissants:

And the piece de resistance – a chocolate/hazelnut beignet that could make you weep. It is so good they’ve been sold out every time I’ve been back. I wish they would hang a sign when they have them or triple the batches or something. On the other hand I’m sure my waistline thanks the rarity factor.

5/5

Yann Haute Patisserie

329 23AVE SW

A great place to start is A Ladybug Organic Foods and Belgian Bakery. They do have a tiny café at the Currie Barracks Market, but given a choice I usually opt to go visit them at their relatively new store on Aspen Stone Blvd. I’ll be honest, I can’t write an enormous amount about their offerings for two reasons. First, I can’t ever get up early enough to visit them before they’re entirely sold out of most of their breads and croissants. And people, I’m not talking about rolling out of bed by noon and arriving at the market in the afternoon. I mean they sell out by ten thirty or sooner and despite my best efforts that’s about as early as I’ve ever made it.

A second reason for my lack of experience with their amazing products is the fact that what I have bought so far has garnered such loyalty in my mind and house that I can’t wean myself off my regular purchases to try much new stuff. At the Currie Barracks location I adore both their sweet and savory crepes I tend to buy at the very least a whole grain baguette, a gorgeous, salty focaccia which is amazing as a fodder for sandwiches, a rye bread, perhaps some frozen croissants or pain du chocolat and at least two of their phenomenal lemon tarts.

The lemon tarts have been called legendary with good reason. I don’t have the world’s biggest sweet tooth and my experience with lemony desserts left a great deal to be desired, but if I could marry this lemon tart and have its tartlets I’d seriously consider it. The crust is perfect – crumbly, buttery, rich and the perfect foil for the heavenly filling. Aaaah the filling. It’s almost transcendentally good with a creamy and bright flavor, silky smooth texture, a perfect little circle of caramelized sugar and is too good for words. Legendary indeed.

At their new location they serve coffee, tea and lunch which I’m sad to say I haven’t tried yet. The sandwiches and paninis all look great though and I trust them to not mess up the sandwiches, waffles or salads they offer. I did have a café Americano served in a cute French press and found it had the right richness, flavor and strength. Overall I respect A Ladybug for their commitment to freshness, organic foods and above all else quality. If you’ve been there tell me your favorites and if you haven’t, run don’t go to the best little bakery in town.

A Ladybug Organic Foods & Belgium Bakery
2132, 10 Aspen Stone Blvd. S.W. 403-249-5530