Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and I am getting more and more requests for date ideas. While Toronto has a diversity of experiences to offer, I’ve selected my top six Mother’s Day dates for the dessert lover.
1. High-technique desserts from Roselle – 362 King St E
Roselle is a true Toronto gem in the city’s east side. Pastry Chef Stephanie Duong is a master at creating desserts that are both mouth-watering and stunning. You can take your mom here for a late night date (they’re open Friday-Saturday 8pm-11pm) or for a day-time treat, followed by a stroll through the near-by Distillery District. I recommend trying their earl grey soft serve (available on weekends) or their banana eclair – it’s heavenly!
2. Intimate tea and scone date in Parkdale – 1574 Queen St W
At Kitten and the Bear you will find the best jams in the city and the most buttery, crumbly scones of life. For $17/pp you get a seriously good scone, a selection of their jams, clotted cream (imported from England!) and a pot of Toronto’s very own Sloane tea. Note: this is a very small cafe, seating only five people (between two tables). They don’t take reservations, so I would suggest heading over on off-hours if possible. If you have time to kill while you wait for a table, take your mama vintage shopping at the many cute boutiques in Parkdale or get her a bouquet of fresh flowers from Crown Flora.
3. Boozy Brunch at the swanky Entice Culinary Lounge – 1036 Queen St W
Entice Culinary Lounge serves GREAT cocktails (or mock-tails) and always has delicious food on the menu (for a reasonable price!). The space is classy, modern, and they take reservations. It’s also good for larger groups. They will be serving a mother’s day prix fixe menu ($35/pp) that includes items like Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes with Rosewater Berries, and will have extended brunch hours until 4:30pm.
4. Afternoon Tea in the historic Royal York Hotel – 100 Front St W
For a more traditional experience, take your mama to the historic Royal York Hotel for Afternoon Tea in their Library Bar. For $50/pp you get a pot of tea, a selection of sandwiches, and a tower of pastries and desserts. I took my mother here last week, so you can watch all about our experience here.
5. Chocolate Lover’s Dream at Cacao 70 – 28 Gristmill Lane
Cacao 70 is a Montreal-based chocolate cafe that serves tasty crepes, waffles, savoury sandwiches and of course – hot chocolate. Their hot chocolate is truly a treat, with ten varieties to choose from. I highly recommend getting the darkest chocolate blend for your hot chocolate – because it can get REALLY sweet and rich (you should also probably share the hot chocolate). The strawberry cheesecake crepe is also a top pick. They have locations in the Distillery District and on Queen Street.
6. A home-cooked brunch featuring the fluffiest pancake recipe
What better way to show your love than by cooking a beautiful, creative meal yourself. I use this fool-proof fluffy pancake recipe and it never fails me. I took the basic recipe and adding some matcha green tea, whipped ricotta and berry compote to the mix! Seriously delicious…
Sarah Jade is a food, travel and lifestyle blogger based in Toronto. Her and her husband David is expecting their first baby in September 2017. You can find more of her posts on tastesTO.com or on Instagram @tastesbyjade
