Andrea's Gerrard St. Bakery
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Photo: Matt Forsythe
The market for desserts is a crowded one. As trendy, of-the-moment shops continue to saturate neighbourhoods with maple bacon cupcakes, elderflower macaroons and orange cardamom ice cream sandwiches, there's something refreshing about a bakery that delivers on the old school classics reminiscent of your adolescence.
That back-to-basics approach was the key ingredient to Andrea Mut opening her own namesake bakery on Gerrard Street in 2012. Honing her skills at Toronto favourites such as Dufflet, Edward Levesque’s Kitchen and the Brickwork’s Café Belong, Mut began churning out tarts, crumbles, and cheesecakes, and has since created a loyal following for her treats among sweet-seekers.
Photo: Matt Forsythe
Andrea's Gerrard St. Bakery is quaint and eclectic at once. A large glass display box showcases an assortment of home-baked goods on mismatched cake trays and platters while cookies are stacked in various sized jars atop vintage dressers, shelves and other display cases.
Photo: Matt Forsythe
The bakery itself feels like the kitchen at grandma’s place where some of your fondest cookie memories were surely formed. Andrea's menu ranges from sweet treats like lemon tarts, wee 4-inch cakes, brownies and an assortment of cookies (including a gluten-free option) to take-out lunch options like sandwiches and quiche.
Photo: Matt Forsythe
Arguably best known for her butter tarts ($4), they’re stacked front and centre on display in a tall, buttery pyramid, surrounded by beautiful rows and delectable piles of berry crumbles ($4+) and blueberry scones ($2.75).
For those looking for something savoury before indulging their sweet tooth, Andrea’s quiche ($5-$16) and meat pies ($6.25-$25) are easily consumed on the go and also make for enticing brunch options to bring home and share.
Photo: Matt Forsythe
However, the flakey and traditionally seasoned empanadas including spicy chicken and black bean and corn ($3.50 or 6 for $18) that Andrea perfected during her time in South America are certainly worth a try.
Andrea's Gerrard St. Bakery has such a varied assortment and the classics so well perfected, that nearly everyone can find something here to satisfy in both a sweet and savoury way. Shameless pun intended, Andrea’s Gerrard Street Bakery has carved out the perfect slice of the dessert industry pie.
SIGNATURE SWEET: Oozing with sugary-sweet goodness and a buttery crust that flakes with every bite, Andrea uses her grandmother's recipe to create a butter tart that's been voted best in Toronto.
Read our LOCALS profile with Andrea Mut on setting up her bakery in East Chinatown, why she bakes with simple ingredients and how her travels have inspired her recipes.
635 Gerrard St. E
andreasbakery635.com
Photo: Matt Forsythe
