March 28, 2007 - 6:44pm
big hey from Nova Scotia
I've been meaing to sign up on this board for a while, who could ask for a better site?
Right now I'm attending the Boulanger program at Nova Scotia Community College, desparatly scrambling to find a job placement for my third semester, and equally scrambling to but together a menu for the canadian skill competition boulanger division. just want to chill here and talk bread, maybe pick up some tips and formulas.
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Hi,
Welcome to the site. I agree, hard to find anything better if you want to hang out and talk about bread. I've been sailing along the coast of Nova Scotia in past years and enjoyed it very much, partly because of the beautiful coast (exciting weather sometimes, though), and partly because I met one friendly, helpful person after another wherever I went.
Bill
welcome Jesterbread,
I'm across the Bay in downeast Maine; your province is our favorite place to go! Lots of happy memories from Tatamagouche to Annapolis basin (and it doesn't get any cooler than Halifax). Outside the province, but closer to us, some of the best bread I've ever eaten came from a bakery on Grand Manan. I think it's only seasonal, but the last time we went, I had to buy about 6 loaves to take home...
You've found the right place to hang out!
edh
Like Bill I am also a big Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Maine fan. Lucky you to live in such a beautiful part of the world and to bake bread while there! The Bolanger program sounds like fun and makes me want to start school all over again. Let us know about your favorite bakeries near you when you get a chance...we're hoping to spend some time in your area this summer.
edh - we'll definitely be in Lubec this summer, so I'd love to get over to Grand Manan to try the bakery you mention, do you have any specifics on it?
mountaindog,
Gah! You had to ask; of course I've forgotten the name of the bakery, but then, Grand Manan is not a big place. It's been several years, but as I recall it was on the left, on the way out of town, but not far from the center of things. I'm pretty sure that you could ask just about anyone about it on island and they'll tell you where to go. I think the owner goes to someplace urban and far away in the winter, like Toronto, or Montreal. That sounds like a weird description, but on an island it'll get you where you need to go.
They don't only do bread, either; their sweets were to die for as well, and I think you could even get a real cappucino (a rare commodity in these parts).
If you're headed to Lubec, you should check out Monica's Chocolates. Totally over the top, but some of them are out of this world.
I have a little bit of a sweet tooth...
edh
Thanks - you're right, it should not be hard to find on Grand Manan - I have never been there yet so was not sure how big a town it was, look forward to trying it. Yes, we are big fans of Monica's Chocolates, had a nice visit there a few years ago, back then I think it was called Seaside Chocolates, and I think the pair of chocolatiers split up the business since - we are on their mailing list. The dark chocolate blueberry confections were my favorites! Lubec is a great little town.
I have a weakness for the coconut filled chocolates; I swear there's something in there that's not listed on the ingredients, bourbon or something.
I'm already living vicariously through your planned trip to Grand Manan, I love the place. If you're looking for a great dinner, we ate at a place called the Whale Cove Inn a few years ago. Fantastic food (not always easy to find in New Brunswick or Eastern Maine); I don't have any sense of the price range as we were there for a conference on someone else's tab :-), but it was really good. Even more important, make sure you drive to the opposite end of the island from the ferry terminal. The end and up the western shore are all huge cliffs; we've seen whales, and looked eagles in the eye from the path that goes along the top. Breathtaking.
edh