Known for its elegant cakes and cupcakes, Pastel Bakes is the latest of the GTA’s thriving virtual pandemic-era bakeries to venture into three-dimensionality, with the recent opening of Cafe Pastel, on Dundas West.
Like many of its culinary cohorts, Pastel Bakes rose from the ashes of professional and personal burnout. In 2018, founder Maliha Rahman left a career in the mental health sector, having reached the conclusion that its demands were threatening her own emotional equilibrium. After coming to the realization that the most soothing antidote to the double whammy of unemployment and anxiety was baking, she decided to transform her panacea into a profession.
As a result, while the world was locking down due to Covid, Rahman, together with her business-savvy husband, Fahmid Islam, were starting up Pastel Bakes in a Summerhill basement. Within a short time, Rahman’s Instagrammably enticing confections went viral and demand for her custom-made cakes and cupcakes went through the roof.
Rahman responded by assembling a tight, women-led crew of bakers, cake artists and pastry chefs. However, while success was sweet, from the start, Rahman’s dream had always been to migrate from the virtual to the physical. In a blog post she published during Covid, she confessed:
“I now have an image in my head of having my own café/bakery, sitting in the corner and watching others create their own memories. It brings me so much joy when I have the ability to make someone else happy with my creations.”
After months of renovation, that image has taken concrete form at 862 Dundas West, between Bathurst and Ossington. Inside the bright and cozy space, you’ll encounter examples of Pastel Bakes’ exquisite yet understatedly decorated Signature, Floral, Baby Animal and “Everyday” cakes along with sweet and savoury treats that pair nicely with a selection of coffees and lattes.
In addition to croissant sandwiches and choux buns (try the Earl Grey), you’ll find plenty of cookies – N.Y. Biscoff, Funfetti and chocolate chip Nutella swirl – as well as cupcakes with flavours such as chocolate mousse, salted caramel and strawberry lime.
Without a doubt, the most singular – and deliciously “messy” – items on the menu are the Cakejars. Available in flavours such as tiramisu cheesecake, s’mores and caramel peanut butter, these sundae-like mash-ups of cake, cream, gooey sauce and sprinkles are served in recycled glass jars, an ideal solution if you want to take some home to have on hand in the event of emergency late-night sweet cravings.
Cafe Pastel is currently open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
