Le Dolci

Lisa Sanguedolce never planned to open a sweet shop but after living and working in the U.K. she found herself spending more time huddled around the oven testing out different baking techniques than she did wrestling with words as a freelance journalist. Packing up her recipes and baking dishes, she headed back home to Toronto to open a food-focused space where she could share her passion with others. “Everyone loves delicious and pretty things,” explains Lisa. “We provide both so it’s a simple formula we think works well.”

Snagging a corner lot across the street from Trinity Bellwoods park, Le Dolci is both a bakeshop and event space. The cozy interior has exposed brick walls, glittery chandeliers and two long stainless steel tables in the centre of the room that are set up as work stations. During the day, Lisa’s staff and culinary students from George Brown can be seen in action practicing their piping skills and packaging sweets for corporate events. In the evenings and on weekends, the music gets turned up for culinary classes where wannabe bakers and decorators can try their hand at making creative confections like Parisian-style macarons, croissants, doughnuts and caramels. Visitors and participants find plenty of inspiration on the neat shelves along the walls, which are lined with colourful Instagram-worthy custom cakes and creations.