Best Bites: Lebanese Pastries at Arz Bakery

Baklawa, ghrybe, and ma’moul- Lebanese treats that I'll be sampling for you this week. The flavours of the world on the tip of my tongue!

This past weekend at some friends house in Markham, I was reminded what it is about Lebanese food that I adore so much. Leila Abboud is the kind of cook who comes by her culinary flair naturally. She loves the food of her heritage and makes it so well, that watching her cook is a joy. From raw kibbie (that my husband and I were wowed by), fresh tabbouleh, Leila's homemade hummus to chicken shishkebobs, we dined like honoured guests. She and her husband Sean then served up some beautiful Lebanese pastries from a lovely Toronto-based pastry shop called "Patisserie Royale" on Lawrence Avenue. This Patisserie is their favourite and the selection included mouth-wateringly good confections of nuts, cream and rose water.

This week, I offer you my second Best Bites column- this one about the fine pastries and baked goods found at another wonderful baked goods shop- Arz Bakery. Good thing reading is calorie-free!