Ksenia Dempster is a baker and proud “dessert person”. A believer that desserts should make people happy, she is spotlighting the final courses that are worth unbuttoning your pants for, and the talented local chefs behind them. To be clear: this column is not intended to review anything or anyone. Ksenia is in no way, shape or form a “critic”. She’s just an accomplished dessert enthusiast wanting to share intel on good desserts! Know someone making a nice dessert that you think she should know about? Hit her up on Instagram at @kseniaisadessertperson.

Here’s the thing about bakeries: there are a lot of them. The bakery scene in Vancouver has really taken off and we’ve been treated to a whole bunch of new openings over the last few years. And hey, no one is happier to see this “bread boom” than I am. Give me a good croissant on every corner! The more muffins, the merrier!

Conversely, Cadeaux Bakery opened its doors in early 2012; but despite being over a decade old it is still one of the city’s best. “Cadeau” means gift in French, and this bakery is just that. Inside, the bakery’s production space is separated from a small but elegant seating area by the pastry and coffee counter where said gifts are on display. Cadeaux is best known for their cakes because (duh) they’re beautiful and honestly so good that they’ll turn your brain into buttercream. But one would be remiss to leave without trying one (or four) of their pastries: I left with an herby, dilly, cheddar scone and I have no regrets; however, the French Onion Soup Scroll and Dirty Chocolate Croissant caught my attention as well.

Of course, I also got cake: a slice of their signature London Fog. I took it to go, intending to share it with my partner, Shaun. I ate half of it and saved the rest for him. Well, all I’ll say is that he should have gotten to it sooner; and that if having the cake you’d promised to your partner as a mid-morning snack the next day is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.

THE DESSERT

London Fog Cake
Vanilla butter cake layered with white chocolate mousse, Earl Grey milk chocolate ganache, and finished in Chantilly cream.

Find it at:
Cadeaux Bakery

By the slice: $8.25 | Whole cakes: starting at $55 (by pre order)
Available all year, thank goodness.

Upon opening 13 years ago, this was one of Cadeaux’s first feature cakes. The team wanted to come up with a cake flavour that was special and unique to Vancouver. Inspiration struck with the flavours of a London Fog; a drink, that was (fun fact!) created in Vancouver in the 1990s, and made for a very delicious cake. “After all these years, I still find it as delicious as when we created it,” says Chef Eleanor. She’s absolutely right, folks.

The Chef

Eleanor Chow Waterfall is the chef and owner (and all around warm and wonderful person) of Cadeaux Bakery in Gastown. Her resumé is stacked: prior to opening Cadeaux, she worked as Executive Pastry Chef in some of Vancouver’s most notable restaurants, including Blue Water Café, Chambar, Café Medina, and the now defunct Lumière. Eleanor is passionate about local producers and suppliers, and along with running Cadeaux, she is currently working with her husband to rejuvenate their family farm with the hopes of providing produce for the bakery and other local businesses in the near future. Sign us all up!

How do you take your coffee?
I enjoy a good Macchiato every now and then.

What did you think you’d be when you “grew up”?
I thought I would be a school teacher.

What was your childhood birthday cake? What is it now?
Dairy Queen cakes as a kid. Nowadays I don’t get cake. Like ever! I prefer a good birthday Negroni.

Favourite chocolate bar or candy?
Don’t have one!

What is your favourite seasonal ingredient to work with right now?
When it’s cold out I like to use apples and pears.

Where should I go next?
The Tiramisu at Kissa Tanto is really something special.

Cadeaux Bakery

Neighbourhood: Gastown

172 Powell St.

604-608-8889

WEBSITE