Having tried the offerings at the Cob's Bread location in Kensington Market and being disappointed on all counts, I thought it only fair to give it another shot, only this time at the recently opened location in Maple, at the Mackenzie Glen Plaza. Regrettably, I was once again let down on all counts. The baguette, while shaped like a baguette and with nice color on the outside, fell short when it came to the inside, dry, dull and crumbly, not anything like a classic baguette, flavorful , with good structure and sheen...
Enough about the bread, now to get to the real reason why I've chosen to revisit the subject of Cob's Bread in this second review. During my visit I happened upon a few interesting bits while observing the goings on in the open bakery area to the rear of the bread racks. I observed one of the staff prepping something resembling croissants, in frozen form, from a plastic lined cardboard box, carefully laying them out on a baking sheet, as if they were following a method taught to them by a master. I can't say I was terribly surprised, having tried the finished product a few weeks earlier, and having a bit of an idea of the skill involved in making a croissant from scratch. As I mentioned before, the pastries are no better than that popular coffee joint one can find on any corner. I barely had time to stop grinning from my new discovery when the same person emerged carrying yet another box of seemingly frozen goodies, I loitered and struck up a conversation with the gal behind the counter. Out of the corner of my eye I watched as the baker, for lack of a better term, prepared a tray of frozen tarts for the oven..The only thing I could read on the box was that its content's, the tart's, place of manufacture was British Columbia. I felt uneasy about the idea of buying a tart that had traveled further than a Nova Scotia lobster to reach my mouth, so I said goodbye and left...Investigation completed, I have no plans to return.
There are many places to buy better baked goods and better bread then COB'S Bread....Probably right under your nose....
Happy eating.
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