TULIE BAKERY

Where: Tulie Bakery, 863 E 700 S, Salt Lake City

Who Went: Just me!

Number of Visits: 1

What I Ordered: Pain au Chocolat and Hot Chocolate

What It Cost: $8.10

What I Thought:

After Paris last summer, I have been on a rather unsatisfying quest to find baked goods that measure up to my boulangerie memories. Yeah, yeah, I realize how snobby and pretentious that sounds, but its the truth, so deal with it. I decided to check out Tulie Bakery after a friend's recommendation, and it seemed hipster/artisan enough that it might just be good :)

I ordered my favorite - pain au chocolat, in addition to a hot chocolate to sip on as a casually read a book for the first time since classes started last September. The environment was nice and cozy-chic, and I definitely liked feeling like I could take my time and enjoy the morning. The first bite into my pastry was promising -- it was buttery, flaky, and crisp. But as I continued to eat the pain au chocolat, I was a little disappointed at how chewy and dense it was in the middle. I just want the combination of crispy, flaky on the outside + light and airy on the inside! So, this was half of what I've been looking for. It still tasted good, and was overall satisfying, but just off target slightly.

The hot chocolate on the other hand, was surprisingly good! As a non-coffee drinker, I've always been a little jealous of all the pretty latte art out there, which makes for such popular Instagram fodder. So I was pleasantly surprised with this pretty little drink, and loved the creamy top which contrasted deliciously with the rich chocolate underneath. It was spiked with a little cinnamon on top, which added just the right amount of interest, and was overall a tasty little drink.

What You Should Do: So, $8 does seem a little pricey for an every day pastry and drink, but if you are in the mood for a little comforting splurge and relaxing café morning, then Tulie Bakery is definitely a good place to visit!

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CORNER BAKERY CAFE

Where: Corner Bakery Cafe, 6227 S State Street, Murray

Who Went: Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Cinnamon Roll and Egg & Sausage Panini

What It Cost: Like $8?

What We Thought:

So on the morning before the Chex Mix Party at Fashion Place Mall, I was kind of hungry, but didn't want to eat a HUGE breakfast because obviously we were going to be chowing down on Chex Mix, so we decided to pop in to Corner Bakery Cafe. I've had their sandwiches at a couple of catered lunches (they seem to have a really awesome contract with the University of Utah), but catered food is usually not a good representation, so anyway, we went for a bit of a breakfast snack. 

This was definitely one of the best store-bought cinnamon rolls I've ever had! Of course, Owen obviously picked out the one that had the most frosting, which is definitely a must here. I usually prefer a creamier frosting than an icing type, but this one was pretty darn good!

Mmm...panininininininiiiii. I'm not a huge breakfast sandwich person, but this one was actually surprisingly good. Super fresh sourdough bread, actually real Cheddar cheese (nothing skimpy here!), freshly cooked eggs (I actually saw them cooking the eggs, so that's good!), and applewood smoked sausage. A great little sandwich, a great little breakfast...overall, much better than I expected considering their sometimes soggy catered sandwiches...

What You Should Do: A pretty good breakfast alternative if you ask us! I haven't tried many options there, but all of the bread and pastries were fresh and delicious, and it seemed like everyone around us was enjoying their breakfast too :) I definitely want to come back here some time and give it another try!

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MAGLEBY'S FRESH

Where: Magleby's Fresh, 3362 N University Ave, Provo

Who Went: Chelsey & Owen, Chelsey & Sarah

Number of Visits: 4

What We Ordered: Buttermilk Pie and Carrot Cake

What It Cost: $9.89

What We Thought: 

We went here on our second date. Adorable, I know. Owen told me that they have "the best pie in town" and that we obviously had to try it. His favorite kind was the buttermilk pie. And I got carrot cake because carrot cake is the bomb. And after our second date, this carrot cake became my all-time favorite carrot cake because it was perfectly moist, perfectly carroty, had a great amount of heavenly cream cheese frosting, and most importantly - did not contain raisins. 

Since we had such fond memories of this place, we decided to go back recently for a little dessert following our trip to nearby 180 Tacos. 

We placed our order, and when we got our cakes, we were surprised that it had taken them so long just to cut up a pie and microwave it for a little bit. I mean really, that presentation was just abysmal. And it was a little later in the evening, so I can understand not having a full kitchen staff, but seriously from what we could see, there was just one kid working the register and microwaving stuff in the back. Every time we heard someone order, we heard the microwave go off in the back a couple of times and then they called up the food. For a place with "fresh" in the title, I was a little disappointed. And that pie above? Really? Yikes. Did not look appetizing, and it tasted dry and a little old. Where did the magic go??

The carrot cake also did not live up to our memories. It also tasted like it had been set out on the counter for a couple of days, and was a little skimpy on the frosting. Such a bummer.

What You Should Do: Ever since the other location closed near BYU, I feel like Magleby's has been suffering a little bit. It's not really very fresh, considering the establishment's name, and the scattered beeping of the microwave in the background didn't really do much for the ambience. Let's bring back the goodness Magleby's! What once was a favorite should be restored! Also $10 for two subpar desserts? Meh.

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Harvest Restaurant

Where: Harvest Restaurant, 3003 N Thanksgiving Way, Lehi

Who Went: Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Warm Apple Cider, Curried Butternut Squash Soup, Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Butternut Squash Ravioli

What It Cost: $51.00

What We Thought:

Most of the time at expensive restaurants, I leave the place thinking, "Oh sheesh. How many hours am I going to have to work to make up for that? Why did I spend so much on a meal that was not much better than something much cheaper??" 

Fortunately, Harvest Restaurant was not the same.

I don't remember what was going on (probably I finished a big test or something), but I wanted to celebrate! With plans of heading to the new outlet malls in Lehi, we decided to splurge on this exciting-looking restaurant at Thanksgiving Point. Entering the restaurant from a cold winter night, I immediately loved the warm and cozy ambience. The decor was a little cheesy but still very nice, and we were lucky enough to be seated next to the crackling fireplace. 

We started out with some warm spiced apple cider, which was perfectly warm and delicious on a cold night. We especially loved the cute little teapot it came in, though it was a little hard to pour from...

Prior to our meal, we received this cute little loaf of bread. It was served fresh and hot, and was absolutely adorable of course. It was quite a lot of bread for just two people, but we thoroughly enjoyed it - light airy honey wheat bread with some sweet butter on the side.

I was a little bit on a butternut squash kick for the night - I couldn't help it, it just sounded so good! I was a little disappointed because the soup didn't actually arrive until the rest of my food had come. It would have been nice if it had arrived earlier as a starter like I thought it was going to. Nonetheless, it had a delightful flavor - the sweet squash balanced out by the savory curry flavor. I liked the toasted pepitas on top, which added a little textural variety to the smooth and creamy soup. It was pretty filling; on a night when you're not as hungry, it could definitely be a meal in itself!

Owen ordered the buttermilk fried chicken (with my encouragement), and it was exceptionally gratifying. The chicken was a nice thick cut, which made me a little nervous, but it was cooked all the way through while still remaining succulent and juicy. We liked the flavor of the buttermilk coating, and the buttered green beans were fresh and crisp. The mashed potatoes were a little too gluey for me, but they still had a nice flavor and went well with the chicken.

The butternut squash ravioli was the highlight of the meal for me. I should have taken another picture, but the ravioli pastas were individual little works of art - they were made from this bright red and orange stripe patterned pasta that was really amazing.  Once I could get over their prettiness, I bit into an incredibly savory and scrumptious ravioli pasta that was coated in a creamy sage sauce. Grated pecorino gave a nice tangy flavor that helped cut the creaminess, and the toasted pecans were a unique and innovative touch that really enhanced this dish. I liked the little chunks of butternut squash that were mixed in, and I wished that I wasn't so full from the soup so that I could keep eating it!

What You Should Do: I would definitely recommend Harvest as an excellent choice for a quality night out. I only wished the service was a little better (getting my soup out late/she was not very attentive), but altogether, we really enjoyed our meal here. The food was all absolutely delicious, and we definitely want to go back again!

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Also, Merry Christmas!!

Ruby Snap

Where: Ruby Snap, 770 S 300 W, Salt Lake City

Who Went: Chelsey & Michelle, then Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: 2

What We Ordered: Trip 1: Zoey (Lemon Blueberry), Maris (Chocolate Caramel), Frida (Molé Chile de Arbol & Cinnamon), Ricki (Coconut Almond Chocolate), Vivianna (Mango Dark Chocolate Citrus), and Evia (Pear Marzipan Pine Nuts). Trip 2: Vivianna, Zoey, Nina (Coffee Toffee), Lilly (Lemon with Lemonheads), Virginia (Molasses Ginger), Betty (Oatmeal Apricot Cherry), Judy (Orange Cream Cheese), and Maria (Banana Crème Brûlée)


What It Cost: $12.50 for 6, plus you get a free cookie coupon for next time!


What We Thought:


It's so funny - I never thought I would go so crazy over some cookies. I mean, everyone likes cookies, but also everyone can make cookies and they're no big deal.

But then I went to Ruby Snap Bakery up in Salt Lake.

Wow.

Could I have been more wrong?

When you enter Ruby Snap, you are greeted with that wonderful aroma of freshly baking cookies - I seriously need to get a job there because smelling that 24/7 is my idea of heaven. The friendly staff welcome you and tell you about some of the incredible flavor options they have - things you would never think to combine in a cookie, and yet somehow, when you taste it, it's like they were meant to be in a cookie from the beginning of time. It's a little confusing at first since they have so many different flavors that are named with sexy little pin-up girl identities, but they have convenient little cheat sheets for you, and the staff offer to let you sample any flavor you like. And we're talking real samples here - like quarter-of-a-cookie-sized samples! Then they wrap your cookies up in the cutest box you've ever seen - I'm just so glad that they are all the way up in Salt Lake or else I'm pretty sure I would stop by there every single day.

Let's start with our favorite - the Zoey. You've never had cookies as thick and chewy as the ones at Ruby Snap. I have no idea how they do it! They manage to be amazingly soft while still cooked all the way through. Definitely my kind of cookie. As well-established in previous posts, I'm a lemon addict. Throw some blueberries in there, and you've won my heart. The Zoey cookie was the favorite for both me and Owen - it was like the best lemon blueberry muffin you've ever had hopped up on steroids, with a delicious glaze to complete it. It was seriously incredible. I could eat one of these every day.

Next, the Maris. This was a chocolate cookie with chocolate chips and a caramel center. I mean, really? How could you go wrong with that kind of flavor combination? You can't, and Ruby Snap does a fabulous job with it. I expected it to be delicious, and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Then the Frida. I was a little nervous for this one since the description reads "Molé dough with a chile de arbol ganache center. Topped with cinnamon-toasted pepitas." I'm pretty sure the last time I had a cookie with chile in it was...um...never. But I decided to be adventurous, and boy, was it worth it. What a unique flavor explosion - and it came from a cookie! The chocolate was rich and sweet enough to balance the hint of spiciness, and it reminded me of delicious Mexican hot chocolate.

The Ricki - basically an Almond Joy candy bar translated into cookie form. I love Almond Joy, so naturally I thought this cookie was amazing. I was really impressed by the coconut flavored dough - I would have thought it would be easier to make the dough with the readily-available almond extract, but the hints of coconut in the dough really made the cookie incredible.

Next up was their flavor of the month, the Evia. The only thing that made me upset about this bakery was the fact that this amazing cookie is only available for one month out of the whole year! Of all the cookies we tried, this one surprised me the most - who would think that a vanilla bean dough with bits of pear, a marzipan center, and toasted pine nuts on top would make for such an incredible cookie? I only ordered it because the combination of flavors seemed so bizarre, and the final result completely blew my mind and my taste buds.

Finally, the Vivianna. This citrus dough cookie comes packed with chunks of dried mango and dark chocolate, a knock-out combination for any of you folks who may like fruit and chocolate together. This is their most popular cookie according to the staff at Ruby Snap, and it's clear why it is so desired. Both times when I ordered this cookie, I savored every bite, wishing that it would never end!

The next time I visited Ruby Snap, I didn't manage to get any pictures of the cookies since I grabbed them in preparation for a 12-hour road trip to Washington. They definitely made the trip way more endurable! Once again, the cookies were delicious, though this round wasn't quite as life-changing as the first batch we ordered. We really liked the Betty - a twist on your typical oatmeal cookie, and the Virginia and Judy were as soft and delicious as I had hoped. The Lilly was good, but kind of weird - the baked-in lemonheads definitely give you a unique texture for a cookie that we couldn't decide if we loved, and the Maria, their special for the month, was actually kind of disappointing. It basically tasted like a slice of banana bread with a little caramel disc on top. But I gotta say, one not-so-amazing cookie out of the twelve flavors we tried? Those are pretty good odds to me!

What You Should Do: Definitely add Ruby Snap to your list of places to try! In fact, put it at the top of your list. This place is amazing. They have wonderful staff, to-die-for-cookies, and are an all-around great place to visit. The cookies are baked fresh every day, and at the end of the day, they donate any leftover cookies to local food shelters. You know I'm a sucker for a company that supports the community. Their cookies are also available at the SLC Farmer's Market, and I hear that they will be carried soon in local Harmon's and Whole Foods grocery stores. There is definitely a conspiracy between Ruby Snap and Tillamook ice cream to give me diabetes, I tell you.

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Delipan Bakery

Where: Delipan Bakery, 355 S Freedom Blvd, Provo

Who Went: Chelsey

Number of Visits: 1

What I Ordered: Concha with sprinkles, Cono, Napoleones, Dulce de Leche Empañada, Galleta

What It Cost: $4.33

What I Thought: 


What is the deal with French bakeries always getting all the press? Guilty as everyone else, I decided to branch out and try this highly rated Mexican bakery as a little treat for myself after getting my immunizations updated. Everyone deserves pastries after getting shots, in my opinion.

The first thing of note about this bakery is HOW CHEAP IT IS! Compared to Les Madeleines or Eliane's, this place is a miracle. They have tons of selection, and practically everything is under $2. I decided to get a whole range of items because they were pretty much the same price as just getting one pastry anywhere else I've been.

The Napoleon was Owen's favorite of the bunch - thick chocolate frosting on top, layers of pastry, dulce de leche, and cream inside, with a nutty exterior. The one thing to watch out for with this bakery was that for us, it was really hit-and-miss. Some pastries we really enjoyed, like the Napoleon, and others were pretty unappetizing. So if you get one you don't like right away, don't fear - there are some good ones out there too!

This cono was my personal favorite - it probably would have been Owen's favorite too except I managed to eat it all before getting home to share with him! It was a buttery pastry cone filled with creamy custard - yum! It was like eating a giant and more solid cream puff...delicious.

I knew before even buying it that this cookie was probably going to be no good, but I couldn't resist the bright pink color and Mickey Mouse sprinkles - I love Disney! I was right, the cookie itself was very hard and basically tasted like food coloring, but it still put a smile on my face :) I wouldn't recommend buying it, unless you are getting it as a gift or something for a little (or big...) child who happens to love Disney as much as I do.

This was the Dulce de Leche empañada - the pastry once again was very buttery and I really enjoyed the dulce de leche filling. It got pretty stale by the second day, so I would recommend eating it quickly after purchasing!

This concha with sprinkles was basically like an oversized and kind of stale doughnut - I wouldn't recommend it. But once again, the colorful sprinkles persuaded me to get it!

What You Should Do: If you're in the mood for a sweet and buttery pastry but don't want to break the bank, give them a try! Try to go for things that look like the needed to be made fresh and recently - i.e. cream or fruit filled, and you'll probably be more likely to get something great. And if not, hey, you only spent 75 cents, so it's worth the gamble if you ask me!

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Les Madeleines Patisserie

Where: Les Madeleines Patisserie, 216 E 500 S, Salt Lake City

Who Went: Chelsey, Owen & Grandma

Number of Visits: 1

What We Ordered: Chocolate Éclair, Mango Jasmine Pâté de Fruit, Peach Charlotte, Meyer Lemon Tart, Hazelnut Buttons, Craquelin, 2 Mint Limeades


What It Cost: ~$15 for half of that...


What We Thought:


Dear Eliane Bakery,

I hate to say it, but I think I may have found a new favorite French bakery. Don't hate me, I'll still come visit you since it's all the way in Salt Lake, but they are just so cute and delicious!

My sister's roommate was getting married in Salt Lake, so after we dropped off her and my mother at the reception, we had an hour or so to kill in Salt Lake with my grandma. Where better to take her than a bakery? Nowhere, let me tell you. We got a little sampling of treats and then sat outside under the maple trees and enjoyed the lovely weather.

First up, the Peach Charlotte, which is made with peaches from the Salt Lake Farmers Market just down the road. Wow. This little fruit delight was absolutely heavenly. The light spongy cake was a little basket for a wonderful whipped and chilled peach filling. The peach flavor was so real and fresh and was absolutely divine with the soft cake exterior.

And as if that wasn't enough, we also partook of the most incredible Meyer Lemon Tart. I surely have mentioned this before, but I am a huge sucker for anything lemon flavored, and Meyer Lemons contribute this wonderfully unique and sweet lemon flavor that I. Die. For. It has a sweet and sturdy crust, and the filling tastes like real lemons, not weird pudding or something. It has a cool and creamy texture, and the meringue on time is indescribable. I love how it is lightly toasted and the whole thing together is officially my new favorite dessert.

Chocolate éclairs that actually taste like chocolate are always a favorite of ours, and this one did not disappoint. Although, of all the pastries we tried, I have to say that I think I actually prefer Eliane's chocolate éclair to this one. But there is absolutely no competition with that Meyer Lemon Tart!!

I've always been a macaron lover - the super cute double foot, the meringue-like texture, and the thin crisp crust on the exterior - and Les Madeleines does not disappoint here. These cookies are so delicate and hard to make, but I love them so much! It is hard to find a place that will sell you one for under $2, so when I saw these for $1.75 each, I had to get two. The hazelnut flavor was light and enjoyable, and they are just so dang cute...I can't help but loving them!

The craquelin was a unique buttery brioche pastry, with loads of crystalline sugar on top and a brown sugar & orange chewy center. Of all of the desserts we got, I probably would never order this one again, but Owen absolutely inhaled it, so to each his own, I guess!

We each got a refreshing fresh squeezed limeade, which was delightfully tart and a little fizzy - a perfect beverage for sitting outside and enjoying a nice spring day.

What You Should Do: You have to check it out! They have pretty limited hours - closed at 6 on most weekdays and at 4 on Saturdays, but they are absolutely worth the trip! I haven't even tried a majority of their desserts, but they each looked as amazing as the next. I think that for my birthday, I am just going to requests 5 of those little Meyer Lemon Tarts, and be happier than I can even explain. They also have a large lunch menu with a variety of sandwiches and other items, but really, how was I supposed to get something healthy with all of those cute little desserts staring me down?

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Eliane French Bakery

Where: Eliane French Bakery, 1750 S State Street, Orem

Who Went: Chelsey & my friend Katie, then Chelsey & Owen

Number of Visits: 2

What We Ordered: Way too many little pastries...

What It Cost: $13.83

What We Thought:


I think this little French bakery has changed my life here in Provo.

Let me just preface this by saying I have never been to France, and am not really the expert on true authentic French cuisine. But I would say that I am an expert on what tastes good, and this my friends, is not a place to miss out on!

Eliane French Bakery is tucked away next to a little dance studio and a couple other shops on State Street, and has hours that are sometimes hard to accomodate (10-6 according to their Facebook, but when I got there, the sign said 12-7?). But once you step inside and inhale that incredibly scent of freshly baked bread, all those inconveniences melt away, and you are transported to a land of pastries and wonder.

Eliane, the store owner who actually hails from Tahiti, not France (but he assured me that they speak French and eat French cuisine there), is a bit reserved and is hesitant to give specific recommendations (he said that they all are his favorite!), but is more than willing to give advice on where to get the best cheese to go with his freshly made baguettes (WinCo), and was fortunately very patient with me as I took my own sweet time trying to make up my mind about what to try. But I got to say - he was right! They are pretty much all delicious!

Both Katie and I got a mouse -- I ordered the blueberry mousse, and Katie got the lemon cheesecake one (adorned here with a delicious selection of fresh, ripe fruit). Biting into the mousse was unlike anything I've ever experienced. It had such a true, rich blueberry taste, and the consistency was heavenly. Katie didn't really love her lemon cheesecake one as much, but we decided that it was because it didn't have the typical cheesecake-like texture she was expecting. If you go into it knowing that it will have the texture of a mousse, you will be more than satisfied.

Katie ordered some real food (unlike the desserts-only me...), and got the Croque Monsieur. This sandwich is on two thick slices of French bread, baked with ham and cheese and a rich sauce. I know this will probably offend all French people everywhere, but the closest thing that it reminded me of flavor-wise was scalloped potatoes. We decided that it was definitely enough to fill 2 people, and for its low price of ~$5, it was definitely a great deal. Next time I will certainly try one of his promising quiches...if I save any room after dessert!

I am a lemon fanatic, so this lemon tart immediately stole my heart. Eliane's tart crusts were unlike any I've ever tasted before. They were perfectly buttery and crumbly, a fantastic support with even better flavor. I must learn his secrets!

Another great thing about this place is that you can try even more varieties with his options for mini desserts. Since my goal in life is basically to try everything he sells in this place, I took advantage of this and got the mini pear-almond tart and mini chocolate eclair. The pear-almond tart was actually the biggest disappointment to me. I couldn't really tell what kind of nut accompanied the scanty amount of pear, but this was probably my own fault because I ordered the mini version, and there was a much smaller filling to crust ratio.

But I totally cursed myself for only ordering the mini version of this chocolate eclair...it was AMAZING! The chocolate filling was so rich and well, chocolately, and I loved the crisp golden pastry that surrounded it. Wow. I don't even know how else to describe it, besides you better go there and get one right now.

Next I tried the Strawberry Napoleon. The cream filling was so real, rich and decadent, and the strawberries were fresh and flavorful. The whole thing was put together by the delicious cake-y inside, and I had the hardest time restraining myself from eating the whole thing, so I could bring some home to my husband. It was like the most perfect strawberry shortcake you have ever imagined. Times ten.

The baguettes. Oh the baguettes. So crisp and crackly on the outside, and soft and wonderful on the inside. For some bizarre reason I only got a demi-baguette the first time I went...and the second time we went, I got two full ones! They are the best fresh bread I have ever partaken of, and I am pretty sure that picking up a baguette here will become a weekly habit for me. A little warning though - these baguettes are a little messy. I haven't figured out the best way to break the bread without getting little crackly crumbs everywhere, but I don't care! It's so good!

Just look at that. Do I even need to describe it? Chocolate mousse, so decadent and rich and amazing. The ultimate indulgence, right here people.

These photos are just from the first trip I took there. After that fateful Saturday afternoon, I dragged Owen there the next week and we picked up 2 full baguettes, a mini fruit tart, a full size chocolate eclair, and this slice of brioche layered cake with cream filling and a dusting of powdered sugar...all for $10! Some people complain that this place is expensive, but if they are selling little old cupcakes for $2.50, I totally think that this unique, hand-crafted pastries are definitely worth it!

What You Should Do: Go right now! Make it a weekly habit like I will be doing to pick up some fresh bread every week, and possibly a little treat or two! I love this rare little bakery gem right here in Provo, and I hope you will be able to enjoy it too!

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