The Nanaimo bar is the three-layer no-bake Canadian dessert square: a coconut-graham-cracker chocolate base, custard buttercream middle and chocolate ganache top. Toronto bakeries carry it year-round.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 2 cities.
The Nanaimo bar originated in Nanaimo, British Columbia in the 1950s, the first published recipe appearing in the 1953 Edith Adams cookbook. Through the 1960s the bar travelled east across Canada and became a staple in Toronto bakeries and Jewish delis. Wanda's Pie in the Sky in Kensington has carried it since 1989; the runny-custard middle layer the city's reference style.
Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Tree Nuts
Tip from the editors. Bird's custard powder is canonical for the middle layer; vanilla pudding mix at 1:1 if not available. Score the chocolate top with a hot knife before it sets.
Wanda's Pie in the Sky on Augusta in Kensington Market has run the city's reference butter tart counter since 1989, baker Wanda Beaver's pies.
Order: A classic Canadian butter tart, runny in the middle.
Tip: Closed Mondays. The cherry pie is seasonal in summer; the pumpkin pie in October.
Worth the queue: Butter tart
Beaucoup Bakery on Fir Street is Vancouver's reference French laminated pastry shop since 2012, the gold-standard almond croissant plus daily seating.
Tip: Almond croissants sell out by 11:00 on Saturday; weekday morning is the calmer queue.
Worth the queue: Almond croissant
Granville Island Public Market under the Granville Bridge since 1979 is Vancouver's reference indoor food hall, 50+ vendors, BC seafood and produce daily.
Tip: Arrive before 11:00 to skip the cruise-ship lunch rush. Lee's Donuts and Siegel's Bagels are the local cult queues.
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