I have a habit just before Christmas each year to visit a vegan bakery. Pre-pandemic, when I used to go into the office for work, my team would have a little get-together. We have one vegetarian on the team, so I'd get baked goods from a vegan bakery. I am also borderline lactose-intolerant, so I truly love figuring out what good vegan bakeries are out there.
Bloomer's is one such bakery. Its Instagram account decided to follow me a couple of months ago. I have flagged a visit ever since, but it's on Queen Street West and I am rarely in that part of Toronto.
Two weeks ago, Bloomer's announced that it has set up a new store at Bayview Village. It is closer to where I live and was excited to drop by. I did it yesterday, on the last Saturday before Christmas.
I haven't been to Bayview Village in years. I had no idea where Bloomer's was. I did my usual, which is to park in the middle of three mall entrances and figure it out.
Let's cut to the chase. The Bayview Village directory is horrible to look at. I realize that Bloomer's is new, but it wasn't on the directory at all. I walked up and down this section of the mall (it's closed off where the boutiques are) and couldn't find it.
I took a chance and tried entrance number 1 as if I were on a game show. I won! Bloomer's was a few steps past Scotiabank. Yay!
There isn't a major sign for Bloomer's. Rather, there's a sign on the floor that points you over to the store. It looks classy and I love the inflatable doughnut with a bite taken out of it.
For a vegan bakery that sells doughnuts, the variety is through the roof! I spent two minutes reviewing all flavours that you could get. I was exhausted and elated simultaneously. London fog. Cranberry orange. Rose pistachio. Lots more. I wanted everything!
A lovely woman helped me with my order. I knew that I wanted six doughnuts. I got the following, which had more of a Christmas theme:
- Tiramisu
- Peppermint candy cane
- Eggnog cheesecake
- Raspberry sufganiyot
- Dark chocolate sufganiyot
- Gingerbread maple (shaped as a gingerbread guy)
The woman was so patient with me, which I appreciated. I was in such a doughnut trance... haha! I paid using my credit card. You have the option to tip. I liked that feature. She asked whether I needed a receipt. I was good without it.
She came out of her doughnut area to hand me a large box containing my goodies. It was such a nice, personalized touch. I thanked her and wished her a nice day.
If you have been reading my posts, I am not a huge doughnut fan from major chains. Years ago in Winnipeg, I did rotating shift work. On nightshifts, many of us would bring in doughnuts from Tim Horton's, Robin's Donuts, or Coffee Time. On one shift, we had three boxes of doughnuts. 36 of them between eight people. Ugh!
However, if there are handmade doughnuts in unique flavours from local places, I'm a fan. Not bad for someone who hasn't had therapy with my past trauma.
I sat in my car with my box of doughnuts. I had had breakfast nearly two hours ago. I opened the box and decided to devour one. It was difficult to decide which one, but I went with one that wouldn't be as messy to eat. I went with the peppermint candy cane.
I love peppermint and candy canes. What's not to love about it in a doughnut? It was fresh. The icing wasn't overly sweet. There were small, crunchy crushed candy canes (I dare you to say that fast!) on top, which made each bite so interesting and yummy. I was hooked (pun intended).
When I got home, I had dinner and had the tiramisu doughnut for dessert. I love tiramisu to begin with. I took a bite and the espresso flavour was so good. The doughnut does have a hole in it, but it's not fully closed. It is brilliant that the creamy dollop nested perfectly in the centre. The combination with the fresh dough part made me so happy.
This morning, I had the raspberry sufganiyot. I cut it in half to check it out. I have never seen so much filling in a doughnut in my life! I am huge raspberry fan. This doughnut is my jam (I need to stop with these puns)! It's the perfect raspberry filling. I loved every bite.
I have eaten my way through half my stash. At this rate, I have a feeling that the remaining three are equally as delightful. I am addicted and love the quality of each flavour that this place has put together.
My doughnuts came up to $26. It's not bad considering that I get six mochi ones for $25. I don't eat them often, so I'm okay with the price. The sufganiyot ones were the most expensive. With that much filling in them, I don't mind paying more for them.
I'm a fan. There was plenty of parking when I went on a Saturday afternoon. I'll be back for more.
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