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I have a new favourite coffee shop. The Vendome Cafe is in the Sunnyside heritage building where Heartland Cafe used to be, behind the LRT station. The owners of Teatro run it now.
The Vendome has some of the friendliest staff I’ve ever met at a coffee place, even when the lineup stretches to the door on a weekday mid-morning. It also bakes everything on-site.
I’ve said before I’m not a coffee expert. I just know what I like and don’t like. And I like the Americanos ($2.25/8 oz., 2.75/12 oz.) at Vendome.
There’s also a tranquility (no, I’m not going all hippy dippy) to the place in the high ceilings, hardwood floors and the sunlight streaming in the windows. I could sit there all day … and eat croissants.
Oh my god, the croissants ($6.95). They’re not the regular crescent-shaped ones most places make. Vendome’s croissants are flat and square — and stuffed with warm gruyere and emmenthal cheeses. There are two kinds: flaky and buttery with spinach and mushroom, or flaky and buttery with ham.
I haven’t made it past the first kind. I also haven’t been able to take a photo of it because it comes out of the oven and straight into my belly.
Vendome Cafe, 940-2nd Ave. NW, (403) 453-1140.
I adore their duck sandwich! So flavourful and not fatty at all. The little complimentary dish of pickles/salad were very tasty too. The butternut squash soup was magnificent – creamy and you could really taste the vibrancy of squash. I think my lunch of a sandwich and soup cost me about $17.00, but it was well worth it.
Went today for the first time with Gibson. We were intrigued by the veggie eggs benedict the couple next to us was having. They noticed our stares and raved about them, so we had to get them.
They were the best bennies EVER, and I’m a carnivore! We both marveled at how the eggs were perfectly cooked and how the sauce had just the right amount of tang.
My Americano was also divine. We agreed it was the best meal we’d had in a long time. Kind of spensy, but worth it.
Love Vendome brunch. Crab Benny there still my fave. Have spent small fortune there on cinnamon buns and Americanos.