G-farm In-store Bakery [Mimi's World Tour]

Bakery: G-farm In-store Bakery (吉田村麵包)

Address: No. 257, Section 3, Jinhua Road, West Central District, Tainan

Website: n/a

Style: Chinese

Price: $-$$  

I only really went to this bakery in the first place, because it was conveniently located right across the street from my apartment and its large windows displaying cakes and a large array of baked goods both sweet and savoury couldn't help but lure me in. I wasn't even planning on visiting another bakery that day and I definitely wasn't planning for that bakery to involve some sort of doughnut. Oh well. .___.; But come on, I went inside and was just stunned at how many doughnut varieties they had. Did you want strawberry glazed, ring or twist - they had it all, even at night. How could I have resisted? 

At just under $20, the simple sugar ring doughnut may have been the cheapest doughnut there, but it really had been a while since I'd encountered one of these. Classic, perhaps even underestimated doughnut with a moist, fluffy inside, a nice sprinkling of sugar and a lovely - though not very crunchy (I always like the outside on sugar doughnuts to not be so soft) - golden brown exterior. A promising start to my Tainan Cake Tour! 

Rating: ***

Uncle Charlie's [Mimi's World Tour]

Bakery: Uncle Charlie's (生力美食)

Address: No. 132, Wufu 4th Road, Yancheng District, Kaohsiung

Website: https://www.sunnycake.com.tw

Style: Chinese

Price: $-$$

 

Don't let the chicken logo fool you - this is a bakery, not a Taiwanese fried chicken restaurant. ;) Actually, Uncle Charlie's was my final stop in Kaohsiung, a cluttered, somewhat grimy (I had an unpleasant customer service experience right upon entering that made me contemplate just walking out altogether, hence the bias) bakery that sells different varieties of bread and buns, silly cakes and pineapple cake gift boxes, cookies and - of all things - popsicles. Judging by the slightly faded yet permanent poster outside, their specialty seems to be full taro and red bean pies; however, I can't recall seeing them inside or if smaller pieces are available. 

Another more unusual find, though certainly not on the same Asian baked good level as taro and red bean, was the apple flaky pastry ($30). In truth, I usually avoid the more Western items in Chinese bakeries, because they're not very good, but I wanted something different. It did definitely look more flaky on the outside, which was a bit surprising since Chinese bakeries do know flaky, and it could have benefited from more apples, but the taste, overall texture of the dough, apples and flaky outer layer as well was the level of sweetness was quite good. Yes, despite the shopping experience. 

Rating: ***

Ciderworks

Bakery: Ciderworks @ Salt Spring Apple Co.

Address:  529 Fulford-Ganges Rd, Salt Spring Island BC 

Website: http://www.ciderworks.ca/

Style: Apples 

Price: $$-$$$

 

I guess it's hard to believe that the tasting room/retail store for a craft cider company would be featured on the Cake Tour, but I was just as surprised as anyone to step inside and realize that the "snacks" mentioned on the chalkboard outside referred to baked goods. And those baked goods being apple fritters! It is rather fitting, isn't it? Orchards making their own cider is becoming more and more common, especially in BC, so why not baked goods? Alcohol and doughnuts. Thumbs up for the great combination!   

That being said, the apple fritters (available in both smaller, sugar-coated balls and the classic glazed variety) were quite dense and doughy and lacked that not-so secret ingredient: apples. Yes, you do often encounter apple fritters with just a few chunks of apple, but given the fact that this was an apple orchard first, apple cider maker next and fritter manufacturer last, the focus should have been on those apples, not on the somewhat sub par dough. Exciting find, but execution could be better. 

Rating: **1/2