What's in a name? The name of the shop has a story, part of which started in Guelph! In the midst of putting together this bakery, among applications for construction and business, Eric was at City Hall putting together some paperwork. The phone in the office rang, where the person on the other end was told, "I'm just with Eric the Baker here, I'll have to call you back." And the name has stuck si
nce! The Story Behind it All
We work to achieve the familiar flavours of Eric heritage, which lie in the teachings of his family. Such a love for food and flavour would be wrong not to share, let alone taste! It all started with his grandmother, who opened one of the first bakeries in Toronto, on Yonge Street (Le Petit Gourmet). This is where Eric spent a great deal of his Canadian upbringing, by staying out of childhood mischief and learning how to bake with his dear grandmother! She was the first to teach him how to roll a croissant and to set him on his path in creating delicious and wholesome baked goods. His grandmother's two sons, Eric's uncles, set the precedent for Eric's future, by opening restaurants and bakeries in Toronto, Australia, and Elora, and continuing the philosophy of real food done right, through tradition. Their restaurants and stores (Maison Basque, Cafe du Marche) reflected their upbringing in the Basque country, and the familiar flavours that reminded them of home. Now Eric has continued to carry the family torch with opening several places alongside his uncle Roger, including Cinnamon, a prior bakeshop in Elora, as well as La Cuisine, in Australia. In an effort to move closer to his dear uncle Roger, he was graced by a marvellous location across from City Hall on Carden Street, his current home, where he's chosen to share his beloved tradition with Guelph. So seldom is there a place like this where tradition and history is so well maintained, reflected, and honoured as they do here! Food for Thought
Our menu is fairly traditional, with typical things and inspirations of what one might find in a cafe in France. As we continue to bake furiously, we'll try to find out what Guelph really loves, and combine it with what we know and love. Our menu will grow (more cakes to come!), and with your assistance in feedback (please, don't be shy!), we can offer something for everyone. We're open to comments and suggestions, as well as orders and catering. Our only request that orders are placed either on the phone or in person, NOT on Facebook or Twitter. We've gotten some requests for specialty items such as rye, multigrain, and whole wheat breads, as well as gluten free items. We honour these requests, we just ask that you are patient as we work on those recipes, until we are happy with the tasty results. Allergy/Intolerance/Sensitivity Issues
We are an establishment using dairy products, pork products, gluten flours, almonds and walnuts. Anyone with severe allergies or intolerances to those items listed are not recommended to purchase anything without discussing it with an employee first. Thanks for your understanding!
