I don’t know about our readers here, but at my place, we have no beef with carbs. No dieting is allowed in this house. We respect the humble loaf, bagel, and bun. Fortunately, Canadian Bakin’ has everything you could ask for if you’re in the same camp. This cozy bakery/cafe offers bread baked fresh every day in the historic downtown district, along with plenty of other flavorful fillings.
Canadian Bakin’ Menu
After a humble start at local farmers’ markets, Canadian Bakin’ found its path to a cute little spot on Church Street in the spring of 2020. For those of you who love carbs of all kinds, do not miss this one—this is high-quality breads and spreads all around.
Let’s get started on what we tried.
First, the Coffee
The carbs and bread are the top selling point here, of course, but do not underestimate the shop’s craft coffee selection. The shop offers a variety of hot and cold coffee and tea options, with some exciting latte flavor options to choose from. I opted for their miel flavor addition, which comes topped with a generous dose of cinnamon sprinkled on top. This was creamy, sweet, and strong, which is exactly how I like my coffee. The honey sweetening really brings the flavors together without being overly sweet.
Another member of our little crew chose a mocha latte. This one is an espresso with steamed milk as well, but it features a rich dark chocolate sauce. My friend was a little surprised that it wasn’t sweeter, but for me, that was a pleasant surprise. The richness of the dark chocolate shines much more in this one, not overpowering in its sweetness but pleasantly balanced.
The Down Payment
As a millennial, I was legally obligated to try their avocado toast, and it absolutely does not disappoint (at least, for my fellow avocado lovers. My companions aren’t so refined and cultured). This is a simple meal, a slice of sourdough with avocado, tomato, pickled onion, and everything seasoning. But, sometimes, simple is best, in my book—each ingredient gets to shine on this one, from the thick, solid bread to the softened, almost tangy onions.
The Everything seasoning adds just the right dash of salt to make the flavors really pop. The avocado’s creamy texture softens the bread just a little, letting the flavors mingle more fully. It makes for a perfect light breakfast when you just need a healthy little pick-me-up.
Q-Becco
This pick is one of the shop’s top choices, and after a few bites, I get it. If you’re a fan of a classic bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich, this is absolutely the one for you. Besides the bacon and eggs, this is brought together with a sharp cheddar cheese and caramelized onion. Having tasted the options, the brioche bun is phenomenal with this one.
The carbs are key here, of course—while you have your choice of them, the brioche bun shines with its soft, fluffy texture, delightful in every bite. Otherwise, this has all the makings of your classic breakfast sandwich, but familiarity doesn’t bring this sandwich down. In fact, I was more surprised and delighted at the flavors at play here, which really sing with high-quality ingredients and great bread to go with them.
The Surfin’ Turkey
If you’re looking for a sandwich with a little kick, or if you’re just a fan of pepper jelly, give the Surfin’ Turkey a try. This sandwich was another Brioche bun, so it of course needs no introduction, but what about the center of this tasty sandwich?
This one features turkey, lettuce, pineapple, onion, cream cheese, and pepper jelly, all to create a sweet-and-savory combo that’ll have your mouth watering. Pepper jelly and cream cheese are a tried-and-true combo for me, but when you add the turkey and all its toppings, the flavors become more complex and delicious. If you’re seeking bold, exciting flavors, do not miss this one.
You Can Build Your Own Sandwich
Of course, if none of the other sandwiches catch your eye, or if you have a specific craving, you can also build your own sandwich! One of our little crew built her own, starting with sourdough and adding turkey and lettuce—a simple sandwich, but one that still manages to hold its own among the others.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: even simple combos make for great flavor combos in the right hands and with the right ingredients.
But What About the Bagels?
After finishing up the Down Payment, I realized that none of us had tried the bagels. When I checked the spread list, I knew I had to rectify that. I’m a huge fan of figs, so I had to try one with their fig and honey spread. I asked for the cashier’s recommendation for bagels, and they suggested blueberry. If you ask me, this is absolutely the correct choice.
The bagels have a pleasantly thick, almost crisp exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. Mine was full of berries, of course, which are sweet and juicy now that blueberry season is finally here and add a little moisture to the bread. Without the cream cheese, they’re sweet, wonderfully chewy, and thick. With the cream cheese, the tangy sweetness becomes a whole new story, with chunks of fig and honey swirled throughout.
Really, I could have eaten the cream cheese alone with a spoon, though I’d hate to miss out on the bread.
Canadian Bakin’ Experience
Looking for the perfect place to grab a little breakfast? Canadian Bakin’ does not lack in quality. You can expect the best ingredients, the freshest produce, and the most high-quality carbs in Huntsville right here in their little shop.
Check this little shop out before 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday (they’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). If you’re not an early riser, consider making a little extra time to make the journey. If you’re a fellow carbs lover, you won’t be disappointed.
