eat more gold ...

Heather Chu, Brand Specialist for Dufflet Small Indulgences, snuggles up to her first ever gold sofi™ awarded for Best Confection 2009, Dufflet Caramel Crackle™.

The following pr is shamelessly copied from the Phatguru blog ... we're so exited!


New York, NY (June 29, 2009) – Winners were announced this evening for the 37th sofi Awards for the outstanding foods and beverages of the year. Presented by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) the awards honor the outstanding specialty foods and beverages of the year in 33 categories. “sofi” stands for specialty outstanding food innovation.

The awards were presented at the Summer Fancy Food Show by noted chef Ming Tsai at a red-carpet event at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York.

The 2009 sofi Gold Winners are: Confection—Dufflet Caramel Crackle ™ - Almond & Pistachio
(some other folks won too - view the entire list at Phatguru)

Competition was strong this year, with 1,997 entries across all 33 categories. This spring, a national panel of specialty food experts narrowed the field to 128 Silver Finalists during five days of judging at NASFT’s offices in New York City. More than 550 buyers at the Summer Fancy Food Show cast ballots to select the gold winners. The results were tabulated by an outside accounting firm this afternoon. The Summer Fancy Food Show ends tomorrow, June 30.

The NASFT is a not-for-profit trade association established in 1952 to foster commerce and interest in the specialty food industry. Today there are more than 2,900 members in the U.S. and abroad. For more info visit NASFT/Fancy Food Show and Foodspring


Dufflet Small Indulgences line of Crackles™, Tumbles™, Morsels and more are available at all three Toronto Dufflet cafes as well as gourmet grocers and gift shops through out North America.


Did I mention that we won the gold?

your crackle awaits you ...

The sofi™ Awards, formerly known as the NASFT Product Awards, is an annual competition to honor truly outstanding specialty foods: the best of the best.

Dufflet Small Indulgences’ Caramel Crackle™ - Almond + Pistachio has been recognized with a 2009 sofi™ Silver, for Outstanding Confection and moves on to compete for Gold in at the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) fancy food show on today in NYC.

The sofi™ Awards recognize excellence in specialty foods and beverages in 33 categories and are a coveted industry honor. “sofi” stands for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation.

This is the second year in a row that a product from Dufflet’s Crackle™ line has been chosen to compete by the national panel of specialty food experts who this year tasted and evaluated 1,433 submissions. Read the full press release here

... if you're in New York at the trade show, please drop by the Small Indulgences Booth 2227 and ask Dufflet herself for a taste of crackle!

bike month ends, but the ride goes on ...

The Tour de Dufflet is officially over for another year, and we want to send a big thank you to everyone who participated in this year's eat more cake, ride more bike challenge. We had a great turnout with well over 100 registrants - special thanks to our returning cyclers from last year’s Tour who helped make this year’s event even more fun! Stay tuned to next month's prize winner announcements!

Another busy Toronto weekend kicks off with the annual Pride And Remembrance Run (a 5k run that helps support charities that benefit the LGBT community). This race is the largest of its kind in Canada and takes place on Saturday June 27 at 10:00 am in the Church & Wellesley area of Toronto. Once again Dufflet is one of the run sponsors, so runners, please be sure to drop by the Dufflet table and say Hi! For more info, visit http://www.priderun.org/

Toronto's 29th annual Pride Parade 2009, “CAN'T STOP: WON'T STOP” begins at 2 pm – Sunday, June 28th and travels west on Bloor St. between Church and Yonge, south on Yonge St. from Bloor to Gerrard, and east on Gerrard St. to Church. ... please visit their site at http://www.pridetoronto.com/festival/pride-parade/ to check out the parade route.

2 more days of cake

The Tour de Dufflet and Toronto's Bike Month ends tomorrow at 5pm, so saddle up and get out there!

Dufflet Beach was the place to be June 13th where our 2nd anniversary celebration meshed nicely with weekend Tour de Dufflet riders and folks intrigued by our Dessert Dim Sum menu.

pink + velvet = pride

Dufflet Celebrates Toronto Pride June 19 - 28, 2009 ... save $2 off 9” large or $1 off 6” small Pink Velvet Cakes.

Red Velvet cakes are famous for being ... well, famous! Earliest recipes originate from the southern U.S. and use everything from beet juice to artificial food dyes to enhance their ruddy hue under a blanket of white frosting.

Dufflet reinvents this come-back classic via natural food chemistry (cocoa, cinnamon and buttermilk) to create her magical Pink Velvet Cake. Moist sheets of spicy, cocoa enriched cake are layered with a sweet cream cheese icing that is naturally tinted pink - no artificial colours, no preservatives!

eat more pink cake!

also happening - new QueenSpecific show from 19 June - 28 July, 2009
Opening 19 June, 6-7pm *QueenSpecific, next to Dufflet Pastries at 787 Queen St. West, Toronto

Molly to Molly consists of a suite of four lenticular photographs documenting four generations of women from the artist's family. The top three photographs each contain a pair of images of a mother and her daughter: Molly & Sharon; Sharon & Lainie; Lainie & Molly. The bottom photograph pairs an image of the youngest member of the family with the great grandmother for whom she is named.

Toronto based artist, Michael Klein has been exhibiting video and photo-based work for more than 25 years. His interests include personal history and identity, relationships and interaction, structure and presentation. Michael Klein is also the director of MKG127, www.mkg127.com

*QueenSpecific is a window exhibition space displaying site specific art installations. It is located on Queen St. West adjacent to and co-sponsored by Dufflet Pastries. Artists exhibiting in the space are asked to consider the dimensions of the window, the locale and the potential to engage with the casual passer-by.

*QueenSpecific is programmed by Toronto based artist Joy Walker. For more information please visit: www.queenspecific.com

nix-nee and the em-em-vee-ehs?

Tour de Dufflet riders, beware of stray musicians when cycling along Queen Street this weekend!

NXNE kicked off last night (why does it always rain on opening night?) and will run all weekend until June 21 or until delegates decide to get some sleep. This annual music festival is a must-attend for anyone who loves music (specially the really good home-grown stuff). 500 bands ... 5 days ... Dear Wrist-band holders - please remember that something sweet from Dufflet will give you the energy to go on (to one more showcase!). Please visit NXNE and NOW Magazine to get details.

Also stopping traffic in the Queen West and John area will be Sunday's MMVA09 Music Video awards live at MuchMusic. Fans begin lining up at 6am for the red carpet arrivals at 8pm ... hopefully they will remember to appoint a designated snack-fetcher to drop by Dufflet at 787 Queen St. W. (open at 12pm on Sundays) for coffee and cake take-out. Check out the Much MMVA site at MuchMusic to find out more about performances from Jonas Brothers, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson and Black Eyed Peas (just to name a few)

Dufflet Uptown's 7th anniversary on June 6th was maybe not so star-studded, but sweet all the same!

weekend riders ... crackle special

The past weekend was a busy one - the weather was fantastic, and packs of Tour de Dufflet riders were everywhere! For the second year, Natalie Hulme and Birgit Hulme took the "ride more bike" challenge (along with Heike DeCaria) - we love it when you come back for more! Also on the weekend, John Moss, Al Rozoski and Peter Maione discussed bikes and cake with Dufflet!


Another popular activity at all 3 Dufflet locations is stocking up on Dufflet Small Indulgences Crackle™, which is currently running a Father's Day promotion (in-store shopping only); from June 12-21 buy 2 boxes of Crackle™ and receive a gift bag of Dufflet Chocolate Morsels.

Featured in a recent issue of Country Living, Dufflet's Crackle™ is one of the hottest confection items around today winning accolades and awards throughout North America ... they also make a better gift than a tie for Father's Day!

father's day is no laughing matter

The movement to create a Father's Day began around 1908 and was lead by a woman who wanted to honour her widowed Dad raising 6 children.

Unfortunately, the American press chose to satirize the tribute to fatherhood, and Father's Day often tottered on the brink of disappearing completely. One argument was that if Father's were celebrated (like Mother's), then what would come next ... Maiden Aunt Days, Household Pet Days? The cynics had a field day!

Difficulties continued with the problem of gift-giving to celebrate Dad on his day. The sentimental items perfect for Mother's Day (flowers, cards and novelties) seem funny if given to Dad ... hence, the tradition of giving ties. Funny, odd-coloured ties that Dad would wear once and then hide in the back of a drawer for ever more.

Well, this Sunday (June 21), Father's in Toronto can relax. Dufflet has a little something for your sweet tooth that any son or daughter will be happy to give, and any Dad happy to enjoy!

Just the perfect size, Dufflet's 6" Chocolate Fudge Single Layer cake for Father's Day is a dark and moist sour cream chocolate cake with bittersweet chocolate icing topped with a special decoration for Dad.

If you'd like to read more about Father's Day (and other commemorative days), check out Consumer Rites By Leigh Eric Schmidt (Google Books preview here)

tiny bites thrill toronto taste 2009

A little sprinkle of rain did nothing to dampen the spirits and tastebuds at last night's Toronto Taste charitable event in Yorkville.

Ticket holders sampled gourmet foods and wines provided by over 30 of Toronto's best chefs.

Dufflet Rosenberg was on hand to offer up a sweet cap to an evening of superb bites with her delectable mini flourless chocolate cakes topped with key lime mousse or raspberry cream.

Check out these blogs to see more photos and coverage from the event;
TasteTO - Chowhound (Toronto) - Spotlight Toronto

dufflet beach turns two ...

Another year older, another excuse to eat birthday cake. Please join us at 1917 Queen St. E. (west of Woodbine) for a celebratory slice on Saturday June 13th.

Beginning tonight and available until closing tomorrow, order from our anniversary Dessert Dim Sum menu (dine-in only) and sample any 4 of the following Dufflet desserts for only $5.00!

Carrot Cake - Lemon Bar - Kahlua Toffee Bar - Chocolate Fudge Cake -Strawberry Rhubarb Tart - Caramel Dacquoise - Key Lime Tart - Chocolate Mousse Tart - Chocolate Banana Cake

Meanwhile, the Tour de Dufflet continues to be fantastically popular - thanks so much to everyone who's taken the challenge so far, and to those to come ... what are you waiting for? The Tour ends on June 25th so get out there and eat more cake, ride more bike!

(Photo below: Hayley, Sarah and Ian terminate today's Tour at Dufflet on Queen Street West by enjoying some fresh lemonade and German brownies!)

plastic bag BAD, dufflet bag GOOD

The City of Toronto bylaw requiring retailers to charge for plastic bags went into effect on June 1, 2009.

Retailers must charge a minimum of five cents for each plastic retail shopping bag requested by the customer to carry out their purchases.

On the other hand, you too can look like a Flare super-model and sashay about town swinging your Dufflet wide-bottom green shopping bag for only $2 (tax extra) available from any Dufflet cafe.

And what could be sassier (or greener) than riding the Tour de Dufflet while toting your reusable EAT MORE CAKE bike month shoulder bags?



eat more cake - ride more bike - reuse more bag!

City of Toronto link:
http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/packaging_reduction/5centbag_bylaw.htm

that's just the way Dufflet rolls ...

Dufflet Rosenberg rode the Tour de Dufflet on Saturday, and offers up these tips and thoughts on the ride (Queen West to Yonge to Queen East)

The most challenging aspect of the tour is - at what point do you go uphill to the Yonge location?
Dufflet suggests you conquer that part of the ride by making it your 2nd stop (after the Queen West cafe). Here's what she said about her route;

"... head up Euclid to Harbord St, north on Huron St. to Dupont St, east on Dupont to Avenue Rd, jog to Marlborough St,, then head directly up Yonge to 2638 Yonge St.

Have a cold drink, you will need it by then! Watch out for the construction on Yonge St north of Eglinton (maybe cut off to Duplex?)

From Yonge, I headed down Mt. Pleasant, because I love to race down – but perhaps the bike path would be easiest from the Sunnybrook Hospital.

I cut across Roxborough on the bikepath; stop in at the Brickworks, then head north to Pottery Road and catch the bikepath down to Queen St. E.

Take it easy on Queen E (and take in the sites – Leslieville shopping, used furniture stores) then cruise into 1917 Queen E. where your next beverage and treat awaits. And then ride down to the Boardwalk – take the bikepath back into the City."

(Photo of Dufflet from Toronto Star 2001 - press clip here:

http://www.dufflet.com/pdf/news/dufflet_ToStar2001.pdf

You can also read more about Dufflet's love of cycling in an interview she did with Get Out There in 2006 - article here http://www.dufflet.com/pdf/news/pr_GetOutThere_Mar2006.pdf)

a cake with a view ...

Dufflet President, Daniele Bertrand, gave her green-thumb a bit of a work-out (to lovely results) this weekend when she landscaped the private garden behind our Beach cafe dining room. Although this outdoor space isn't open to the public, it sure is easy on the eyes when dining in the cafe (specially if you're relaxing your Tour de Dufflet bike-weary legs and refreshing with something sweet!)

Need another reason to visit the Beach? Dufflet Beach will celebrate its 2nd anniversary on Saturday June 13th with birthday cake and a special $5.00 Dessert Dim Sum tasting menu. Here's your chance to sample more than one Dufflet delicacy at a time (for those of you who normally practice self-restraint). The Dessert Dim Sum menu has bite-size versions of 9 classic Dufflet items, including Strawberry Rhubarb Tarts, Chocolate Banana Cake and Kahlua Toffee Bars!


Stop in for a taste and remember to sign up for our DuffClub anniversary draws for more sweet treats to take home.

Dufflet Beach - 1917 Queen St. East (near Woodbine)

Toronto Taste 2009

Here's your chance to hang out for an evening in the Village of Yorkville Park (Bellair + Cumberland), experience Toronto's finest foodie experience AND help feed over 500,000 people in need.

On Sunday, June 14th, 2009 join over 30 of Toronto's most inventive chefs (including Dufflet Rosenberg of Dufflet Pastries) and 15 top beverage providers at Toronto Taste 2009, an unforgettable evening of cuisine - presented by The Daniels Corporation and hosted by Carlo Rota, of CBC's Little Mosque on the Prairie.

Now in its 19th year, Toronto Taste is not only the premier culinary event of the year but also one of the largest fundraisers for Second Harvest. This one day event nets over $250,000 which Second Harvest uses to deliver over 500,000 meals for those who are hungry right here in Toronto.

Every day, Second Harvest picks up donated, high quality fresh food, which would otherwise have gone to waste, and delivers that food to approximately 250 social service programs across the GTA. Second Harvest currently provides enough food for over 15,000 meals a day to children in after-school programs, seniors on fixed incomes, women fleeing domestic abuse, psychiatric patients, homeless people, and many others who have fallen on hard times.

TICKETS $225 - Limited tickets available. For more info please visit http://www.torontotaste.ca/ or http://secondharvest.ca/ ... donations are also welcome.

there's pastry in numbers ...

The great weather during the week inspired many of you to travel in packs to fulfill your mission to eat more cake, ride more bike ... we love it!

So far, the top ranking Tour de Dufflet snacks include Fresh Strawberry Tarts (a sweet pie shell painted on the inside with chocolate, filled with pastry cream and topped with fresh strawberries), Dufflet's dreamy Old Fashioned Date Bars and mini Butter Tarts with plump currants. There's a sweet reward to suit every taste, so grab a friend, grab a bike and take the Tour de Dufflet challenge.

One of the groups riding the tour on Friday was this one (shown here at our Queen West location) - seen here are Sean, Vanessa, Derek, Sibel, Miya and Sam fueling up for the final leg of the tour uphill to Dufflet on Yonge!

you sure look sweet on a bicycle built for ...

I forgot to upload this image last year (June 2008), but it's way too cute not to post here now (and inspire those of you with children thinking about riding the Tour). Thanks to Jun Nogami for sending in the photo of her daughters standing with Dufflet (next to their awesome red bike!)

Sorry for this tardy note, but I wanted to thank you again for organizing the Tour de Dufflet. My daughters and I tried on our big red tandem, but alas it was not to be. We started having drivetrain issues associated with a broken chain tensioner. We made it to the uptown location, but I made a poor decision on route, taking the Moore Park ravine down to the river valley, which put us on the Bayview extension which was not very bike friendly. When we reached the Distillery district and took a break, we decided to abandon and to ride home to High Park. In total, 50 km that day, and five and a half hours on and off the bike. We'll try it again next year, and probably not on the last day.

I attach a photo taken at your downtown branch.

Sincerely,
Jun, Mika and Keili.

cake + flowers = anniversary

Happy Birthday to us!

In June 2002, Dufflet opened her second retail location Uptown at 2638 Yonge Street (south of Lawrence Avenue). The space, designed by Kohn Shnier Architects, combines an array of fresh flowers and potted arrangements by Toronto’s Quince Flowers with Dufflet's trademark café and desserts for eat-in or take-out.

On Saturday June 6 our Uptown cafe celebrates its' 7th Anniversary! Enjoy a slice of birthday cake from 1pm until 5pm (while quantities last).

PS/ Tour de Dufflet riders welcome - hope to see you there!

Sunny (windy) Saturday

Distance versus wind factor?

It was inspiring to see so many of you take the Dufflet challenge (eating cake, riding bike) - here are a few snaps taken on Saturday with Dufflet at our Queen West location.

Sorry that we missed the names of the guys in the photo on the left, but pictured up top are Swanda Chiang, Angie Cheung and Donna Tang (with Dufflet).