Arz Bakery's Lebanese Pastries

Toronto's Arabic Quarter Offers Up Sweet Treats

© Mary Luz Mejia

Jul 19, 2006
Variety of Nuts, Morgue File
Move over French pastries- the Lebanese make delicate, whisper thin baked goods with rosewater, orangewater, honey and nuts that give dessert time a whole new meaning!

Some say the best pastries are French, while others argue that the Austrians and Germans are the ones to bake up the sweetest treats. While I enjoy them all, one of the most fantastic flavour combinations to quell my pastry pangs comes from the Lebanese.

Armand Boyadjian, co-owner and head pastry chef at Arz Fine Foods is a master with rosewater, dates, nut and cream fillings. He learned his craft as a fourteen year old boy in Lebanon, later augmenting his knowledge in Paris, France. He's been in Canada since 1989 and together with his brothers, started a quality Middle Eastern food shop with an extensive bakery featuring some of the very best in Lebanese pastry specialties.

His baklawa, for example, is inspired. Unlike most bakeries in the city, Arz rolls out its own paper-thin sheets of phyllo, a time consuming task that Armand says is worth it. I agree- the pistachio baklawa is a decadent combination of toothsome pistachio pieces sandwiched between crisp, melt-in-your-mouth phyllo that's drenched in just enough rosewater to give the whole ensemble that distinctive, Lebanese flavour.

If cookies are more your thing, the light, almost float-away ghrybe, or Lebanese style shortbreads will fit the bill. There's also a stunning ma'moul selection- plump, semolina cookies stuffed with pressed dates, pistachios or walnuts that avoid being overly-sweet like some of our North American cookies can be.

Whether you choose to take away your desserts or sit down at Arz's café and enjoy them with some Lebanese mint tea, I guarantee you one thing- your sweet tooth never had it so good!

Arz Fine Foods- 1909 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, ON.


The copyright of the article Arz Bakery's Lebanese Pastries in Food Trends is owned by Mary Luz Mejia. Permission to republish Arz Bakery's Lebanese Pastries in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.




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Comments
Nov 21, 2008 1:55 PM
Guest :
I'm definetely a lebanese food love since always,and ido appreciate everything i've tried at your place;although there is a smal miniature pastry topped upwith sesame seeds and black tinny poppy seeds hat i love and keep on forgetting the name, i'm not sure but i think that the stuffing had something to do with walnuts and pine seeds.
WOUL YOU BE SO KIND TO SPECIFY WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS PASTRY?
E-MAIL:tonivbarros@gmail.com
thanks i advancefor your kindness anthoy v. de-barros
Dec 14, 2008 5:47 AM
Guest :
The article talks only about the sweets sold at ARZ. I love their sfihas (open and closed) with so many different fillings and a large variety of unique products. This place is unique.
Jan 14, 2009 4:22 PM
Guest :
This is the place where you find the best baklva in the city also their
baked goods are so good, that I can drive 30km to the store in the week end to enjoy their tea with mints and mankousha bizatar.
good job guys.
Jan 14, 2009 4:23 PM
Guest :
This is the place where you find the best baklva in the city also their
baked goods are so good, that I can drive 30km to the store in the week end to enjoy their tea with mints and mankousha bizatar.
good job guys.
4 Comments