hof kelsten

i've been here a couple of times, it's primarily a bakery selling loaves, pastries andgoodcoffee but they also have a sandwich and soup menu, and on weekends a few brunch selections on a handwritten menu. i really liked my challah french toast with bacon, poached egg and maple syrup. really really good. i want to get back down there and try the salmon sandwich and matzo soup of which i hear verygoodthings.

growing up in a family obsessed withgoodfood, i quickly learnt the difference between fresh baked bread and day old stale bread. on a daily basis, my dad or mom would come home with fresh bread and once we ate what we needed that day, we would immediately freeze it to ensure freshness. call me crazy, but i for one still cannot eat day old bread. a few weeks ago on a chilly sunday morning, my best friend and her fiancée invited me to grab a quick bite and then some shopping. as i jumped into their car, they both informed me they wanted schwartz’s, without hesitation we set off towards st. laurent blvd. arriving at schwartz’s, the line up was huge and we decided not to wait. i immediately suggested hof kelsten as i had been dying to try their gravlax sandwich and of course buy some bread. we headed up st. laurent blvd and found parking right in front of hof kelsten. the un-finished decor at hof kelsten provides for a laid back casual and comfortable vibe. the staff is very friendly and

after a year of sampling the shit out of hof and doing my little taste test, this awesome jewish bakery that, imo, redefined the game on many things.

yes, it can be pricey and yes, some of the goods are misses but damn, angels sing whenever i'm there.

the hof is a bakery that provides tables and chairs if you want to sit down to eat which is nice if you want to relax a bit. alongside baked goods, breads and brunch, you have coffee from parlor coffee, a roaster from brooklyn new york.

the coffee, for me, is on point. not the best in town but still agooddamn cup of joe and strong like i like them.

and finally, every time i go there, i get this huge craving and the only prescription is more challah or babka so i try not to go too often. its seriously fattening.

now, excuse me while i go lick the pictures of the goods i took

we tried all the products. the best is "seigle et carvi". it goes well with foie gras. the baguette is a bit plasticy. the pastry isgoodtoo. the brunch is a little rustic.

the place where i get my bread fix all the time! offer a variety of pastries that you definitely make you walk out with more than one item. personally, i like their pumpernickel bread and spelt bread.goodcoffee (beans from parlor coffee). one of the best sandwiches in town too (i love their gravlax).

i got the beef brisket sandwich and an iced latte. sandwiched in between were some purple cabbage slaw, moist and tender beef, and thin slices of roasted apples. the slaw was too “wet” , which made the bread a little soggy, but other than that every bite was enjoyable. my friend got the  gravlax  sandwich . the thick slices of salmon were fresh and well-seasoned. together with the cream cheese and slices of onions, this was one refreshing sandwich. to be honest, i preferred this to the brisket, due to its milder overall taste. despite already feeling full, my friend insisted on getting the babka and hell yea, it was agoodcall. despite being on the buttery side it still retained the gooey and dense chocolate-y essence. i have yet to try their brunch menu but for those who want something more than just sandwich and pastries, try the shakshuka, schnitzel, or salmon cakes.

the vibe inside hof kelsten is super laid back withgoodmusic and a lot of beautiful natural light streaming in through the expansive window panes across the clear glass storefront. it’s a perfect spot to grab a quick bite to eat and a little coffee or iced tea during the day or a faster paced brunch over the weekend.

i have never been able to findgoodsourdough to bring home here until now. this bread was great - beautiful crust, great flavour and perfect texture. i finally have sourdough bread in montreal. thank the heavens!

do you like bread? who doesn’t. there’s nothing like the sound of perfect crust crackling, or the aroma emanating from the soft center. when you’re holding bread,goodbread, you observe, listen, smell, touch, and finally taste.

emma. i'm very happy to find hof kelsten bakery. they make very, verygoodbread, especially their ciabatta is the best in montreal. their bread is very much remind me of those german style bread i had in switzerland before.

so, yeah, the hype is warranted. there are a lot ofgoodbakeries in montreal (the aforementioned guillaume is one of them), but it wouldn’t be hyperbole to call hof kelsten the best. ■ - see more at: http://cultmontreal.com/2013/10/hof-kelsten/#sthash.piv3jizb.dpuf