from tasteto.com i discover zane on queen east
http://www.tasteto.com/2007/05/10/in-zane/
Zane Patisserie Boulangerie
1852 Queen E, Toronto ON M4L1H1
(416) 690-2813
Posted by Paul Wernick in bakeries, pastries, restaurant review on May 10, 2007 at 7:24 am
Zane Patisserie Boulangerie
1852 Queen Street East
416-690-2813
Coffee and pastry for two: $15
“No, you can’t have a brioche,” the waiter said, snatching away my menu. “You are a gibbering, subhuman beast. You are an evil, poisonous dwarf.” His face flushed with anger. He jabbed his finger in the air and continued. “You disgust me. I would rather serve a vicious, snarling dog than serve you. You should be eating in a cage or a pit, not here.” At this point I was feeling distinctly unwelcome. And so I left that Chuck E. Cheese’s, never to return, and wandered the streets, searching for a spot where I could spend a languorous morning sipping café-au-lait and savouring viennoiserie.
Did he really say that, you might ask? Well, maybe he didn’t exactly say that but his tone and facial expression seemed to convey it. Now Toronto can be a cold place but everyone should have a favourite café or bistro where they feel warm, welcome and can contemplate the vagaries of life over a pastry and coffee. As a matter of fact I think it should be a right enshrined in the constitution. Luckily for me I discovered Zane during my wanderings, a French patisserie on Queen Street East which meets all of those requirements.
Zane is owned by Mo Zane. The soft spoken Mr. Zane, who hails from Algeria, makes an impressive array of pastries and breads that are baked fresh everyday. For a start, you could try one of the croissants. Now there is a raging debate about who make the best croissants in Toronto; Clafouti , Célestin, La Bamboche and Pain Perdu all have their champions. I believe that the Zane croissants can hold there own with these more publicized names. The croissants here are buttery gems which strike an ideal balance between chewiness and delicate flakiness. Almond, chocolate and plain are available although I haven’t seen the remarkable lemon croissant in a while. The sugary croissant twist is a, well, interesting twist on the traditional crescent-shaped croissant.
The blueberry Danish made with vanilla custard is exceptional and the wispy brioches cry for your attention in the morning. But it is the cakes and tarts that are the main event at Zane. Le Desir is very popular and combines pralines, chocolate mousse and dacquoise. The Merveilleux is praline, chocolate cream studded with macaron. I tried a miniature Gateau St. Honore – that’s choux pastry filled with cream rounded with profiteroles – voluptuous, lovely to look at, and very French.
Zane isn’t quite the ideal place to lounge in. It’s small and there are just a few chrome stools against a glass counter. The walls are decorated with charming black and white photos of the Casbah in Algiers, as well as pictures taken by Heidi, the server. But the patio is pleasant and there is usually a seat to be had even when the nearby Starbucks is overflowing. The bracing coffee comes in a huge mug and the pastries are served in a quaint basket. Bring a paper, ignore the smog alert, and watch the human circus roll by as you savour a pain chocolat.
Zane is something of a secret but it has a large and faithful following in the Beach. As a matter of fact, our server tells us of a customer who buys elaborate birthday cakes here for her dog. It seems the dog appreciates pastry cream more than Purina. Now I know this is the Beach but that seems a little – how should I put it? – ah, yes: deranged. And that snarling beast better not take my chair.
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Guess where Urbandreamer is going once he gets over his latest flu bug?
Queen East seems to have quite a few patisseries iirc from my streetcar rides out there. Otherwise, there's Thuet's on King West, Clafouti on Queen West and also, some new place just opened in Parkdale....
Roncevalles has Queen of Tarts, and there's bound to be a few places in K-market. But, surely the Annex could handle one or two joints? (There's a place on Dupont@Madison:
http://www.frangipane.ca/ )
Then there's Patachou's on Yonge near Rosedale:
http://www.torontolife.com/guide/food/patisseries/patachou/
Dessert Trends on Harbord....
http://www.torontolife.com/guide/food/patisseries/dessert-trends/
....Pain Perdu on St Clair West of Bathurst:
http://www.torontolife.com/guide/food/patisseries/pain-perdu/
Madeleines Cherry Pie and Ice Cream
http://www.torontolife.com/guide/food/patisseries/madeleines-cherry-pie-and-ice-cream/ (Bathurst@Dupont--damn good pies here.
)
Hey, why not pick up a subscription to Toronto Life?!
The more I research, the more good places I find!
Maybe Toronto is becoming sophisticated afterall?
