Last Sunday, I attended the Toronto Food Fest and took 843 photos.
For the next couple of weeks, I’m going to highlight my top 5 favourite vendors with the photos I’ve taken and questions I’ve asked them to give you the inside scoop!
TO Food Fest Review #1: Bake’n
“Welcome to Bake’n!”
Olivia, one of the owners of Bake’n, warmly welcomes us to a trio of sweet ‘n’ savory goodness: Salted Caramel Bake’n Popcorn, Sticky Toffee Bake’n Cake, and my personal favourite, Butterscotch Bake’n Cheesecake.
Two months ago, Bake’n was just a newborn in the eyes of some of their other competitors (Rodney’s Oyster House is over 20 years old, Patisserie Royale is over 30 years old, Mary Macleod’s Shortbread is 31 years old).
So how do three friends come up with the genius idea of marrying bacon and desserts while starting a business?
With balls and a good palate.
Ash (owner on the far left) tells us how the three of them have always been foodies, been part of the food industry, and attended food festivals together.
“We keep up with all the things we’re eating to the point where I think we’re better than some of these people [in the industry] so we thought, let’s try it out!” says Ash.
It was time to take a risk and make it happen.
One idea led to another, and after one night of some intense Photoshop-ing and brainstorming, Bake’n was born.
Kudos to you, Maryann (owner on the left), as the mastermind and baker of these tantalizing desserts. As a healthy eating-and-fitness foodie, you may have won me over to the dark side (your smile is also super contagious).
Does this mean I might actually start cooking with bacon, let alone bake with bacon? The inspiration has been planted.
These desserts have truly encapsulated the delicate balance of sweet ‘n’ savory. Bacon lovers, you are in for a treat. The sticky toffee was not sickeningly sweet, the popcorn was a good seller, and the cheesecake TOTALLY sold me.
What’s their secret ingredient? Spiced whiskey and thick cut, double smoked bacon.
Bake’n, I think you have a bright future ahead of you.
