Holiday buying at the museum

It was the ideal day for venturing across the river for the annual Christmas Market at the Museum of History. Once there, you were swept along a current of thousands of other happy holiday shoppers. Some of my favourite vendors such as Croquese Cider and Cha Yi Tea, were absent but there were a few others that you may want to check out.

While the market itself has ended, these vendors are easy to find in the region, and definitely worth a visit.

Bakery of Heidi and Willy

These are the cookies I enjoyed as a child and like a child, I look forward to enjoying these Christmas delights with a pee-your-pants enthusiasm. In truth I have a little more self-control now so I’m safe to go out in the world.

Heidi and her husband emigrated to Canada from Switzerland and they produce some of the finest European baked goods you’ll find in the region. It’s to the point now that I can’t imagine Christmas without their cookies or their stollen (there’s a recipe link under Quick Bites below).

The Bakery of Heidi and Willy is located in Alfred just outside of Ottawa and will be in operation until the end of December. It will reopen in October 2024. 

Get some of their things. You won’t be disappointed and yes, like true Swiss bakers, they bake with butter.

Your Bread Box

I love bakers and the magic they produce. I’m the first to admit that the world needs more bakers. It would just be a better place.

As soon as I saw this new vendor my attention was fixed on those lovely loaves of bread. Outside the window, flying reindeer with a fat bearded guy could have been riding the sky and I wouldn’t have noticed.

I took home a seeded sourdough ($12) and being as fresh as it was, I immediately laid on the butter. It was good bread but I’d hoped for a more flavourful crust and given what else is available to us, their pricing was a little precious. 

Your Bread Box is based in Carp but you can find their products at shops like Jacobsons and Thyme and Again.