Every year, Avenue brings together a group of culinary experts to rank the top restaurants in the city in a wide range of categories. Each year, the choices become more difficult to make as the Edmonton restaurant scene expands. Accordingly, we spread out our forum to include panels of judges that include food experts, celebrated chefs, food critics, culinary instructors and our editorial staff.

Best Bakery

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photography by Curtis Trent

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1st

Duchess Bake Shop

Since 2012, Avenue’s Best Restaurants has included a Best Desserts category, and Duchess has held its position securely at the top every year. But, when our judges met to discuss the category this year, it became apparent that such a category can’t do justice to the baked goods and treats that are available around town. After all, some bakeries are best known for their savoury baked goods, while others fill the need for those with sweet teeth. Nonetheless, the judges this year voted, unanimously, that Duchess still reigns supreme in the Bakery category. It’s the bakery that’s been talked about nationwide (even our Prime Minister sings its praises), and still provides some of the best baked goods in town. While favourites such as the Duke cake or the macarons are still the stuff of legend in Edmonton, diners (and our judges) are equally enamoured with Duchess’s list of savoury options like the expertly done croissant, bread pudding or tartine. —Cory Haller

10718 124 St., 780-488-4999, duchessbakeshop.com

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2nd

District Cafe and Bakery

This renewed and renovated bakery has recently become one of Edmonton’s best brunch spots (it secured a position in our Best Brunch category this year), but that doesn’t mean that District has forgotten its humble beginnings as a simple bake shop. While the cafe now buzzes with a new flurry of diners, the to-go atmosphere still rings prominently; downtown patrons still line-up each morning for quick fixes of coffee and baked goods such as the chocolate cinnamon bun or the chocolate-orange scone. And, for lovers of something more savoury, you can’t go wrong with a sausage hand pie or a ham and cheese croissant. —Cory Haller

#101, 10011 109 St., 780-705-7788, districtcafe.ca

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3rd

Reinette Cafe and Patisserie

You wouldn’t expect to find a French patisserie in the middle of a residential neighbourhood in Mill Woods, yet that’s exactly where Reinette decided to set up shop. It has all the patisserie staples like macarons and madeleines, but there’s one dish you absolutely must sample if you go — the key lime tart. The already delectable combination of tart lime juice and sweet, creamy condensed milk characteristic of a key lime tart is taken to the next level by the crunch of caramelized sugar from the lightly bruleéd peaks atop the tart and the hint of lime in the crust. —Adrianna Szenthe

301 Woodvale Rd., 780-577-0974, chezreinette.wixsite.com

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 This article appears in the March 2017 issue of Avenue Edmonton

http://www.avenueedmonton.com/Restaurants-Food/Best-Restaurants/2017/Best-Bakery/