Bakeries: Today's Endangered Shops

Growing up in a small town, my family has always made frequent visits to the local bakery. It was a schoolmate's family business. Back then, you had the choice between buying baked goods from Jee Ho Hin, Tasty Shop, Sea View department store or Smart (which is now SupaSave). B$1.00 for a fresh big loaf of bread from Jee Ho Hin. If you wanted something quick for an afternoon tea, there would be butter buns, curry puff, egg tarts, red bean buns.... It was the bakery my family would go to for years on birthdays until Moi Nam and Marilyn bakeries opened. Bakeries still thrive in my hometown; they are popular hangout places in a very laid back country. WYWY offers a range of baked goods to "nasi lemak" to satay. I dare say they have the best satay in town at the moment. What can we say? Bruneians love to eat and the food is very affordable.

Sadly, in Edmonton where it isn't really fair to compare to any small towns at all, independently owned bakeries are rare. Once they close, they will never open again. Their competitors: Costco, Walmart and other retail grocery stores which offer convenience and fresh baked goods in bulk. At the same time, coffee shops can be an indirect form of competition. If you are willing to pay $5.00 for a fancy venti non-fat something-something latte, why not spend that $5 for a decent cup of plain coffee and freshly baked pastry?

118th Avenue may have a bad reputation in the city for being the hot spot for tramps and johns, but it is home to a community of many independently owned authentic shops. Handy Bakery (8660 118 Avenue) is one of the best Italian bakeries I have ever been to. The cookies literally melts in your mouth into cookie heaven; Cookie Monster could probably have tasted them even though he were to inhale them. There is a deli section for sandwich meats; you can get a freshly made sandwich for $3.00.

Another bakery to check out is Empress Bakery on Whyte Avenue. There were more bakeries on Whyte Avenue, but they slowly disappeared as Whyte Ave became more urban.

Baking is an art; when it is mass-produced, it becomes rather efficient, dull and wasteful. Let your senses be simulated: the smell of freshly baked danishes, the taste that screams the passion and the love of baking, the texture of quality baked goods that crumbles vulnerably in your mouth and the sight of perfectly decorated pastries. Feel free to explore! Add your favourite local bakeries by dropping on comment on this article. Bon appetit!