Edmonton’s Bread Scene

Bread Winners – Butter up to Edmonton’s bread scene

Edmonton has privilege to a wealth of bakeries that have been making waves in the local food scene. But while pastries and baked desserts have been enjoying their well-deserved moment, the spotlight on bread has been a little dim. That, however, is starting to change, as food lovers embrace a return to artisan bread and the bakeries that have quietly served our communities for decades. Carb-counters, look away. Bread is back!

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Boulangerie Bonjour Bakery

9913 82 Ave, Edmonton

Specialty: Strathcona’s Boulangerie
Bonjour is deeply rooted in the traditions of European baking, and they take their artisanal status very seriously. Their ingredients are locally sourced, their grain is milled on location in the bakery and their bread is baked fresh every day. Achieving the perfect loaf of bread takes patience, and father-son duo Yvan and Kenny Chartrand are willing to take the extra time to ensure that they’re delivering a quality product to their customers. Boulangerie Bonjour has dozens of different loaves to choose from, and with their modest prices, you’ll always find yourself craving a taste of their latest creation.

Price point: $5 to $13 per loaf

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Canova Pasticcerie

Location: 12667 – 125 Street, Edmonton

Specialty: Canova Pasticceria is a family-run bakery from top to bottom. Owners Carla Roppo-Owczarek and Kris Owczarek, along with their three sons, have been creating Italian-style baked treats for the last five years. In 2016, however, they expanded their business from biscotti to a full assortment of breads and other pastries, including traditional Italian favourites such as panettone fruit loaves. Canova exports its bread to grocery stores across Edmonton and around the province, but if you’re having trouble tracking down your favourite treat, you’re always welcome to stop by the store itself. Carla and Kris are happy to help you find what you’re looking for.

Price point: $8 to $10 per loaf

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Chartier

Location: 5012 – 50 Street, Beaumont

Specialty: Chartier is famous throughout
the region, both for its delicious French-Canadian cuisine and for being the most successful crowd-funded restaurant in Canada. While you may have heard of the restaurant, you may not have heard of Chartier’s signature bread window. Owners Darren and Sylvia Cheverie want to change the way we think about food by adding a human element to the interaction.
Every weekend, Chartier slides open its kitchen’s street-facing window to sell fresh bread to passersby, in the true style of a traditional French bakery. Through this window, you can watch the bakers work and even chat with them as they prepare your order. Even if you don’t find yourself in Beaumont often, it’s well worth the drive.

Price point: $8 to $10 per loaf

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Panaderia Latina Bakery

Location: 5716 – 19A Avenue, Edmonton

Specialty: Panaderia Latina is the best place in the city to get your fix of Latin-American style breads. Founded in 1993 by Chilean-Canadian couple Jose and Alicia Sanchez, this self-described “mom and pop” bakery has been a long-time favourite of the Mill Woods community. In addition to offering a wide array of baked goods, Panaderia acts as a social hub for Latin American residents of Edmonton. It is a place where they can meet and talk while getting a small taste of home. But even if you didn’t grow up eating Chilean breads and pastries, one taste of Jose and Alicia’s artisanal loaves will turn you into a repeat customer.

Price point: $5 to $7 per loaf

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Portuguese Canadian Bakery

Location: 5304 – 118 Avenue, Edmonton

Specialty: Vaso and Madelina Matias opened the Portuguese Canadian Bakery in 1996, and it’s been a local favourite ever since. As soon as you walk through the doors, you’ll feel the community spirit that they’ve spent the last 20 years building. The bakery serves up pastries and cakes of all kinds, but their specialty is their selection of traditional Portuguese breads. These loaves can be purchased to take home or sliced up at their deli counter to make a variety of delicious sandwiches. Just make sure you get there early in the day; their stock sells out quickly.

Price point: $7 to $10 per loaf

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Zwick’s Pretzels

Location: 12415 – 107 Avenue, Edmonton

Specialty: Pretzels may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of bakeries, but one trip to Zwick’s Pretzels will change that.
After running a successful catering business for five years, Zwick’s owners Darren Zwicker and Maria Chau have expanded their business to include a storefront that serves up just about any kind of pretzel you can imagine. Whether you prefer your pretzels big, small, savory or sweet, Zwick’s has something to match your tastes. Thanks to their full assortment of homemade cheese dips, mustards and sauces, you could stop in for a lunchtime pretzel every day this summer without exhausting the delicious combinations of flavours.

Price point: $2 to $3 per pretzel, $22 to $35 per dozen

What Makes Bread Artisanal?

It’s not just a fancy label. Artisanal bread is handmade by an experienced baker and uses high-quality, natural ingredients.

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