Log Barn 1912

Bakery: Log Barn 1912 
Address: 4782 Hwy 97A, Armstrong BC 
Website: https://www.logbarn.ca/
Style: Canadian, Mennonite?
Price: $$$

What exactly is Log Barn 1912? Halfway between Armstrong and Enderby, there's one of the most bizarre tourist attractions in the country. And yes, that's factoring in giant geese and a rotating pysanka. Most bizarre because, from the dinosaurs and lions to the coin-operated goat walkway it's simply so random, so... deliberately incoherent; it's the definition of a tourist trap. Knowing that you kind of expect it to be overpriced/over-hyped and it certainly is (not to mention you can't buy individual items).

 However, there is more head-scratching in store when you take a look at their in-house baked goods, including butter tarts, cinnamon buns and cookies. I say this, because you're presented with racks of butter tarts on display and, upon ordering, are handed a prepackaged box of three for around $10. Ouch. Then there's that prepackaged box with "Mennonite Pies" written in trademarked Log Barn font and featuring corny photos of farmer children. It looks painfully commercial and, at first glance, I assumed that their in-house baked goods are actually made for them by some commercial bakery, but no, everything on that factory box indicates it is made by the Log Barn. And yet, I still can't get rid of my doubts.

But let's get past the box and give these "Mennonite butter tarts" a try. The perfect, taller shells are supposedly homemade (definitely not handmade), all-butter and were definitely the highlight of the tart. Slightly flaky, good texture, and far superior to the indistinguishable mush on the inside. Thick, gloopy, almost doughy and possessing no distinct taste, I have to say I wasn't a fan.  At the very least, it made for an interesting location shot?

Rating: *1/2