Get Your Toast On – My Top 7

I have a soft spot for old-fashioned bread. The technique, the patience, and the use of quality flour – all the minuscule details required to fabricate a hearty country loaf, just waiting to be sliced thick like the good ol’ days. I’m in awe of its rustic beauty, the firm, crumbly crust matched with the pillowy soft dough… it makes my heart sing. With the toast trend becoming ever so popular, finding a good base for your toppings to nestle on is essential. I’ve listed below some of my favorite places where you can get a good loaf of bread to play with, in whatever way you choose. Though jam and butter may be the dullest of all options nowadays, on breads like these however, it’s pretty damn tasty. (Also to note, the places I’ve mentioned all have toast bars, so it’s the perfect breakfast spot!)

1. Matchstick Coffee Roasters

Address: 639 E 15th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5T 2R6

Phone: (604)-558-0639

2. Batard Boulangerie & Cafe Moderne

Address: 3958 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5V 4E4

Phone: (604)-506-3958

3. Beyond Bread Bakery

Address: 3686 West 4th Avenue

Phone: (604)-733-3931

4. Small Victory Bakery

Address: 1088 Homer St, Vancouver, BC V6B

Phone: (604)-899-8892

5. Doughgirls Comfort Kitchen & Bakeshop

Address: 3322 Shrum Ln, Shrum Lane, Vancouver, BC V6S 0B1

Phone: (604)-333-5474

6. Nelson The Seagull

Address: 315 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6A 0A7

Phone: (604)-681-5776

7. Fife Bakery*

Address: 188 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC V5T 3J2

*(They current are only available at Hawker’s Market but be on the look-out for their expansion as their bread is phenomenal!)

Nelson The Seagull

My friend and I made a stop at this inviting little cafe last week but unfortunately, they were all sold out of their bread. So today, we called in to make sure we did not leave disappointed again. It’s located a few doors from Rainier Provisions and is surrounded by a neighbourhood of wonderful independent eateries. 

The pricing of their food is relatively inexpensive compared to other brunch places I’ve dined at. The herbivore sandwich, priced at $7.50 is seriously a steal considering the quality of ingredients used. The bread definitely lives up to its hype as the soft, pillowy dough and the crackling from the brittle exterior was seriously a match made in heaven. My favourite out of the two sandwiches was definitely the one with hummus and cucumber; the spread tasted incredibly fresh and the cucumbers were refreshing and gave it a nice crunch. The pesto had a very apparent cilantro taste and smell, and me being one who despises that particular herb, I preferred the other sandwich easily. The vinaigrette on the simple salad was also enjoyable, tasting very similar to the one offered at The Secret Garden Tea Company in Kerrisdale, only a bit thicker in consistency.