There are the well-kept secrets, the obligatory stops and those that are worth the detour. There are above all essentials of all kinds that are good to share. For the pleasure of your palates, The duty therefore imagined an appointment in the form of a gourmet notebook, one theme at a time. This time, it’s the donut that monopolizes our attention. A multicultural pastry shop, it dresses up sometimes Italian, sometimes Greek, Polish or even American. Prized by anyone who wants to treat themselves, the donut is a perfect base for the most original, even decadent creations. Among the options, 10 addresses stand out from the pack.
MONTREAL
Bernie Donut
As soon as you say the word “doughnut”, the craze for this Mile-End destination is on everyone’s lips. And with good reason. Not only do his sweet temptations catch the eye of passers-by on Avenue Bernard, but they are also within reach of all budgets. A priority from the start, underlines Dean Giannarakis, the co-owner. It was while talking with his father, John, and a friend of his, George Giannopoulos, that the trio decided to open a donut shop in the old family neighborhood, a friendly place where everyone can indulge themselves. with a pastry fresh out of the oven. Since the opening, they process up to 120 kilos of flour per day. Food lovers flock there unceasingly; on weekends, people gather there like in a church square.
23 Bernard Street West
Cafe San Gennaro
Located in the heart of Little Italy, the San Gennaro café has everything to please: very good coffee and a casual atmosphere where you can taste the Italian style – that is to say, standing, leaning against the counter – pizza al tagliopastries, cannoli and… bomboloni ! These donuts stuffed with pastry cream or Nutella draw crowds every day. What makes us run? the bombolone with pistachio. A tender dough like a cloud that tastes like the sky, that’s exactly it. You could even say that time stands still with every bite. Tip: bring a reusable bag for the nice wine choices to go.
69 Saint-Zotique Street East
Wawel
One of the great Polish traditions is to offer and share pączki during Shrove Tuesday. A day eating donuts, who says better? And not just any donuts: those made from a soft dough, impregnated with a little vodka, then fried! What sets these golden balls apart from the others is undoubtedly their fillings. Between pastry cream and jams, your heart swings? We highly recommend those with plum jam: delicious! And no need to wait for the next Lent to have your dose of pleasure: the Wawel pastry shop, a true Montreal institution for its Polish dishes, in the kitchen all year round. Go earlier rather than later for maximum freshness.
Four branches, including one at 2543 Ontario Street East
Licked Desserts
In 2012, Josie Weitzenbauer, pastry chef and owner of Léché Desserts, revamped the donut’s image to make it a quality artisanal pastry. And also took the opportunity to position the Saint-Henri district as a tasty destination. A mile around then multiplied the pink boxes filled with delicacies, each more tempting than the other. Ten years later, the pioneer in the field still offers just as many sweets, which are available in classic and seasonal fragrances. Many are vegan.
640 De Courcelle Street
Cremy
Its presentation is well established: Rémy Couture is THE reference in terms of traditional desserts. The donut is no exception. A simple glance at the card confirms that this very soft canvas is ideal for his bursts of creativity. Donuts with maple chômeur pudding, cheesecake, chocolate, Red Velvet with Oreo cookies… No surprise to know that he won the title of “king of donuts” on the show Donut Showdown. Don’t miss the flavor of the month for April: maple crème brûlée.
2202 Mont-Royal Avenue East
The Cornetteria
If the cronut — contraction of “croissant” and “donut» — by Dominique Ansel makes our American neighbors salivate, it’s the cronetto that returns the favor to Montrealers. This unique creation of La Cornetteria comes from the marriage between the cornetto and the bombolone Italian, that is to say between a brioche croissant and a stuffed donut. Its dough, golden and crispy, is enhanced with spread, jam or pastry cream. Prepared every day, the cronetto can be eaten on the spot or while strolling in the street. And while you’re at it, don’t be close to a pleasure and treat yourself to a zeppolethe equally Italian brother of the cornettooffered until Easter.
6528 St. Laurent Blvd.
Mr Puffs
Once upon a time there was the wonderful adventure of a small ball of honeycombed, fried and sweetened honeycomb dough. A Greek donut, called loukoumade, which was to become popular throughout the province and beyond. Talk to Billy Siounis, aka “Mr. Puffs”, who has been spreading addresses since his first stand at a festival in 2004. The loukoumade, a pastry that dates back to antiquity, is made from flour, yeast, cinnamon and water. Mr. Siounis took the idea up a notch with chocolate, cappuccino, maple syrup or blueberry toppings. Fun Fact: In 2020, Uber Eats delivered more than loukoumades of Mr. Puffs so many poutines in Quebec!
36 branches in Quebec, including the most recent at 1500, boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest
QUEBEC
The Crazy Table
As soon as you arrive in front of this café-donut-creamery in Charlesbourg, the facade sets the tone for the pleasures that are available in the sweet lair of Audrey-Anne Pouliot. The star is undoubtedly the donuts cooked every morning and embellished according to the inspirations of the pastry chef-owner and the favorites of her loyal customers (and very present on social networks). La Folle Tablée also offers messages in donuts: small letters of golden dough, each garnished with a different cream and placed side by side to create a birthday wish, for example. Very nice, and very good!
8085 Henri-Bourassa Blvd.
Sumo — Café Saint-Henri
Donut and coffee, of course. That’s also what the Café Saint-Henri team thought when they opened a branch in the Saint-Roch district of Quebec. Sumo is the name of this artisanal donut shop located right in the café. It offers up to eight varieties of donuts in rotation or inspired by the moment. Among the classics that are worth the detour: salted caramel and lemon-meringue. With a cortadoit is magic !
849 Saint-Joseph Street East
Beiko, the donut box
The latest in donuts, Beiko is to donuts what others are to chocolate and ice cream. A spruce presentation, original toppings, creations of the month and a vegan offer: the Quebec company meets all the requirements to please the greatest number. Best of all? The base is good! The light and melting paste confirms its freshness. For the rest, follow your enthusiasm and level of taste entertainment!
2778 Sainte-Foy Road
3572, rue de l’Hêtrière