Ruth's Home Baking

Bakery: Ruth's Home Baking
Address: 3487 Concession 2 RR1, Kincardine ON 
Website: n/a 
Style: Canadian 
Price: $-$$

One brother went hiking in the area one weekend and, on his way back from the lighthouse, he spotted signs for this "bakery" and returned with two packs of baked goods for the reviewing. The "Home Baking" in this case is quite literal: the bakery is indeed attached to the owner's house in what was probably the garage and the goodies are what you would come to expect from good old-fashioned baking: pies, squares, butter tarts -- all of those Canadian classics, as I like to call them. Given this is a fairly low-key operation, it does need to be said up front that this place is *good* and puts a lot of more professional businesses to shame!

I believe that items are sold in packages of six or by slabs, these costing $6.50. The brother returned with two treats for the trying: the first were the date squares, which were excellent and some of the best I've had. They weren't too sweet, which always seems to be a problem with dates, as they're already sweet enough, and the oat crumble was just enough, not too much for to overpower the dates and not too little either, so you have a little bit of both in your mouth. Very good.

The second item was the butter tart. Looking at them, they resemble all the rest, but taking one bite... whoa. The household agrees: these are the best butter tarts we've ever tried. The tourist board for the Kawarthas has created a butter tart tour (38 stops!!) which WILL be done by me one of these days and those guys better be ready to treat and beat the high standard set by Ruth. ;) Fantastic, homemade tart shell with just the right level of flaky thickness and a delectable, buttery filling, set on the top and oozing inside. This little treat *melts* in your mouth. Holy-moly was this ever good. It's not fancy, but Ruth's baking is Canadian baking as it should be!

Rating: ****