Nestled in the heart of Toronto’s East End Beaches community, Tori’s Bakeshop is a little slice of heaven. Amongst the scenic lakefront and historical buildings, this little café serves up organic, eco-friendly, and all-natural treats that are dairy-free, egg-free, casein-free and refined sugar-free! It also carries a mouthwatering selection of gluten free products. While many who frequent this local hotspot love it for its incredible baked goods, few actually know that Tori’s is Toronto’s first eat-in vegan bakery and café. Continue reading the Tori’s Bakeshop Review to see if it looks good naked!
Meet the Fabulous Owner
Tori Vaccher, owner and proprietor at Tori’s Bakeshop, is passionate about creating a welcoming atmosphere where people can spend an afternoon of guilt free indulgence. Her culinary prowess was ignited at a very young age and since becoming vegan over six years ago, Tori has mastered the art of developing recipes that not only taste incredible but are also made from the finest whole food ingredients. A self-professed perfectionist in the kitchen, Tori is adamant that she won’t sell any food items that she is not completely happy with. “It has to taste good…shouldn’t have to sacrifice taste [for health or dietary restrictions]”. She calls this pride in her work, but I also see this as the mark of a woman who truly loves what she does and wants her customers to share in her passion for great food.
Tori’s Bakeshop recently celebrated its first birthday and already owner Tori has begun whipping up ideas for future expansion. Stay tuned for the latest from this innovative and awe-inspiring entrepreneur. Tori’s still got a few tricks up her sleeve and I for one cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
Tori’s Bakeshop Undressed
Tori’s Bakeshop is an all-natural, organic and vegan bakery that is 100% committed to creating delicious food the whole family will enjoy. Everything on the menu is baked fresh daily and ingredients are sourced from both local as well as natural and organic establishments like Vicki’s Veggies, Big Carrot, Ontario Natural Food Co-Op and Mountain Path.
All of the dishes are vegan and contain no meat, dairy, casein, refined sugar, or eggs, in addition to a selection of gluten free products. Every item offered at Tori’s Bakeshop lists its ingredients, so you always know exactly what you are consuming. And if you ever have any questions, the staff at Tori’s is always happy to help! Tori prides herself in selecting only the best people to work in her shop; just like her food, she wants only the best for her customers.
Tori’s is also eco-friendly, and is very conscious about where they get their ingredients, where the packaging comes from, and how much waste they produce. Not only is Tori’s being kind to our stomachs, but it’s being kind to the planet as well. Yet another reason to stop in!
Who’s Hungry?
Tori’s Bakeshop, despite its name, is more of a coffee shop than a bakery. Even on a Wednesday afternoon, happy patrons take up every seat in the shop and no one is without a plate (or two!) of a signature Tori’s treat. I manage to find a seat beside the windowsill and take a moment to survey my surroundings: lace wallpaper adorning the walls, lights made from industrial whisks, celadon green accents throughout and the intoxicating scent of cinnamon buns fresh out of the oven. I could easily spend a full afternoon here, especially since Tori’s is equipped with a Wi-Fi connection!
I’ve brought along my friend Sarah today and we both decide to start with a Majesteas tea. Sarah chooses Plain Rooibos while I opt for Ginger Pieces. Both are delicious! It’s really nice to see that Tori’s Bakeshop supports other local businesses, as Majesteas is located in the heart of Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood. For all the coffee lovers out there, Tori’s serves Trebilock, beyond fair trade coffee from a family of roasters based out of Pickering. Customers can choose from a selection beverages and modify them with soy, almond or coconut milk.
Unable to decide what to try first, Tori gives us her top recommendations. Among the most popular items are the gluten-free donut, cinnamon bun, blueberry lemon scone and the gluten-free oatmeal cookie. Served with a small cube of natural, vegan butter, the blueberry lemon scone completely melts in your mouth.
NOTE FROM THE NUTRITIONISTS: Remember to CHEW, your stomach does not have teeth. 😉
In addition to the sweet treats, Tori’s Bakeshop also serves up a selection of savory items such as daily soups and sandwiches. Now that we’ve whet our appetites, Sarah and I decide to split the BLT. I know what you’re thinking: how exactly does a vegan bakery do a BLT, the whole magic to this sandwich is in the B?!?! Well my dear friends, the ba’con’ in Tori’s BLT is actually hickory smoked coconut! There are no words to describe how amazing this sandwich is. It is so bacon-like, crispy and delicious and not only that, it comes on wheat-free bread that is arguably the best bread I have ever eaten. Tori’s BLT is OMG. Yep, I just wrote that.
And so, the next time you’re at Tori’s Bakeshop, whether it be your first time, or 14th time, go check out what she’s baking behind that see-through glass window and if you’re lucky, you might be able to call dibs on one of her famous cinnamon buns. Be sure to arrive early though, those buns have quite the fan following! Tori’s Bakeshop is yet another reason to love The Beaches and it looks great naked!
Have you been to Tori’s Bakeshop? Leave a comment letting us know what you ordered and what you thought!
Plus, if you know anyone else who enjoys eating delicious healthy food, share this review with them on Facebook and Twitter so that their taste buds can be incredibly spoiled too!
