Baker Brun [Mimi's World Tour]

Bakery: Baker Brun
Address: Bryggen, Bergen
Website: http://www.bakerbrun.no/
Style: Norwegian, Scandinavian
Price: $-$$

Like Baker Hansen, Baker Brun is a Norwegian bakery chain, but this time with locations across the country and with several in Bergen and in Oslo. Oddly enough, I never saw a single one while in Oslo, so the time I tried it ended up being in Bergen.

Nonetheless, Baker Brun has the typical selection of Norwegian/Scandinavian goodies, with simple sweet buns and several breads. The Bryggen (that is, old town Bergen) location is more of a petite cafe and doesn't really offer much in terms of baked selection. Unlike all other bakeries I visited in Norway (and in Europe, for that matter), nothing was priced and so it was a little scary, especially with those Norwegian prices ;DD and the fact that anything in Bryggen might turn into a tourist trap, taking the risk, but both buns were well under 250kr, I do remember that, though I can't quite recall the exact price.

This time around, the brother took something as well, so his was the glazed bun (both taken after getting smushed), which turned out to be yet another cinnamon bun, at least I believe so. (lol, I've had so many on this site that it should have its own tag: "scandinavian cinnamon buns" ^-^) He liked it, but he's never much help there... I got this spiral bun with cinnamon and dusted with sugar. According to the cash register as I was paying, someone ended up with the "prinsessekake" but I can't figure out who... especially when I associate 'princess cake' with marzipan-covered cream balls (at least, that's the Swedish equivalent... mmm, prinsesskaka *-*) I would have liked it if it were mine, just because of the name, heh heh heh. Anyways, it was quite good, though the "filling" of the spiral, or at least the alternate colour, could have used a bit more cinnamon, since the bun didn't have much flavour and tasted just like plain dough.

Overall, it was quite good, but not the greatest. And as to Norway, I think I have to say I still preferred Baker Hansen... though it would have been nice to find some non-chains somewhere. *pouts*

Rating: **1/2

Minto Bakery [RIP]

Bakery: Minto Bakery
Address: 5 Glen Cameron Rd, Thornhill ON (available at P.A.T. Central/ Koreatown)
Website: n/a
Style: Korean
Price: $

This was a very hard place to find online, so I'm gathering from Google street view is that Minto Bakery's headquarters are in the PAT Korean supermarket at Yonge and Glen Cameron (~2 blocks south of Steeles)? This assumption makes even more sense considering that Minto baked goods can be purchased at other PAT supermarkets around the GTA, specifically the one in Koreatown (that is, Bloor and Christie Koreatown ;P). They sell bagged individual buns or larger loaf-like cakes, typically Korean in style with such flavours like red bean, green tea and various creams and at pretty good prices, with buns costing $1-something and the larger loaves under $4 (if I remember correctly... it's been awhile .__.;;). As with all Korean baking, the dough itself is just super, super fluffy and cushion-like. ;) I'm not sure with the original location, but the others aren't at their optimal freshness, and given that everything is simple and yeast-based, one day does make a difference.

For testing purposes, I caved and got probably my fave Korean creation: crumble-covered, cream filled buns sometimes labelled as 'doughnuts'. Seriously, you can't resist these things. ^.^ Totally delicious! However, like I said above, they weren't super fresh and in my opinion, I've had better at go-to bakeries, like Fauchon for example. I mean, it's a great option while popping into the supermarket for other stuff, but it's not really worth a separate trip, especially when there are other Korean bakeries in both Koreatowns, south and north. ((PS. Sorry about that horrible photo... bad lighting yet again -__-))

Rating: **1/2

United Bakeries [Mimi's World Tour]

Bakery: United Bakeries
Address: Karl Johans Gate 37-43, Oslo (+ a few other locations)
Website: http://www.united-bakeries.no/
Style: Pan-European, Norwegian
Price: $$

United Bakeries is yet another Oslo-based bakery chain, although they only have a few locations; in comparison to Baker Hansen, they're clearly trying to be a chicer, cafe-style serving more continental baked goods versus strictly Scandinavian... one reason why they ranked as the lowest on my bakery hunt in Norway; at first glance, their total hodgepodge of goods, from French croissants to cookies to foccacia to brownies, all not cheap (and even more so for people not used to Norwegian prices -- I bought a slab of tomato and olive foccacia for my brother's lunch and that was ~450kr (which is equal to a staggering $9 ;___;)) made me kind of want to turn around and uh, leave, since I was more on the lookout for tasty, Scandinavian goodies. Then again, I realized that I had seen only one other bakery (already reviewed), and so, for the sake of the cake tour, I remained.

After some deliberation, I settled for the cinnamon bun (something like 280kr?), although like other baked goods, was more an updated version with a bit of glaze and then a barely there smear of icing... all on a park bench at Akershus. ;) It was alright, but at the same time, I've had much more delicious versions during my Scandinavian baking hunts (aaand I still need to find out a way to get to The Beaches Bakeshop ;-;) in Toronto, which came as a bit of a disappointment. Maybe they do make the best croissants in the city (something which seems to be universally agreed on) or their huge patio is the place to be seen by people who want to see and be seen (lol, like that girl in the lower right who seems to be posing for the camera!), but personally, when in Oslo, I'm more of a Baker Hansen girl. :3

Rating: **1/2