Cakebread Artisan Bakery and Hot Chocolates Shop
Address: 368 5th Street Courtenay, B.C.
Phone: 1-866-468-2462 (Toll Free)
Travelling anywhere on Vancouver Island is always a treat, even when it’s for work, but any trip to the East side is never complete without a visit to Cakebread Artisan Bakery and Hot Chocolates chocolate shop. Located in the Comox Valley, on the main street in Courtenay, this confectionery café is split into a Bakery and a Chocolate shop making it a two for one treasure.
Hot Chocolates
Lets start with the one that started it all, Hot Chocolates and their all natural, handmade chocolate truffle. This is the creation that won the hearts of many when the founder of Hot Chocolates, Sherry Marshall-Bruce, sold them with her mother in a small café on Denman Island. The truffles are still prepared with the same quality and care as they were by the mother daughter team in the 1980’s. Today every one of their artisan chocolates are hand-crafted from the highest quality Callebaut Belgian chocolate and combined with fresh ingredients. Some of these include house-roasted nuts and locally sourced fruit, cream and specialty wines.
Hot Chocolates satisfies any occasion and is the perfect place to pick up presents for friends or family no matter what the season. If you’re not able to make it to the store they have an online ordering system as well. (Go to their website that is linked to the bottom of this page.) My favourite confectionary is their Salted Caramel. Sold in a box of eight with an original and mixed flavour option, I love that they come with an equal amount of dark and milk chocolate coated.
Cakebread Artisan Bakery
Having opened in 2006, Cake Bread Artisan Bakery began with a vision to bring time-honoured European baking traditions to the masses. Their breads are made from 100% certified organic flours and each loaf is hand-shape before being baking in their traditional European stone hearth oven. All of their breads are also dairy, egg and refined sugar-free with the exception of their Challah.
When stepping into Cakebread you will notice the place is buzzing and filled with a welcoming warmth. There is a fine selection of breads, cakes, and cookies, among other delicious delights, beautifully displayed making it difficult to resist temptations. I initially intended to leave with only a few of my go-to goodies but instead I exited carrying three huge bags.
One of the surprise purchases was an immaculate New York Cheesecake with a delicious mixed fruit compote. Creamy and rich cake with a classic graham cracker crust, decorated with a design covered white chocolate triangle and fresh golden goose berry. This would make the perfect cake for my Dads 59th Birthday.
Another sweet new snag was the Carrot Cake Mini Loaf. Light and fluffy carrot cake laced with walnuts, coconut and spices delicately glazed with a sweet cream cheese icing and toasted coconut topping. This was an instant favourite.
Last but definitely not least, no visit to Cakebread Artisan Bakery would be complete with out picking up a piece of their Lemon Meringue Cake. Yes, you heard correct and can start your drooling now. This delicious creation contains all of the flavours of a lemon meringue pie but in a cake. Brûléed meringue topping with a thin layer of lemon curd and above that a thicker layer of creamy icing sandwiched between two layers of white cake. Not too sweet, not too sour and absolutely stunning as well as delicious. I am not a fan of Lemon Meringue but this cake has got me hooked!
My absolute final indulgence was a little taste of liquid heaven, the Belgian Chocolate Mocha. Chocolaty Velvet Coffee with a whipped cream topping and shaved chocolate bits. Just a perfect amount of sweetness.
I guarantee if you take the time to visit this long time love of mine it will bring you as much joy as it does me.
