Emily Rose Cafe
Emily Rose Cafe is a coffee shop that serves up handmade pastries and baked goods including scones, bundt cakes and cookies, as well as vanilla, lavender and maple lattes.
Alessia Peluso has seemed to put thought into even the tiniest of details in the cafe that sits on the corner of Palmerston and Barton in the middle of a residential community.
Hanging plants and wicker chairs fill the space, while keepsakes line a series of shelves on the interior wall including original cups and saucers that were used at Peluso's Nonna Rosa's Italian restaurant that was around for a good 45 years.
Quince jams, pickled eggplant, dried sumac berries, and bagel spice, which have all been made and canned by Peluso, also take up space on the shelves and are available for purchase.
Coming from a large Italian family, Peluso named the coffee shop after both of her grandmothers who she says both share the love language of food.
She now wants to offer to the neighbourhood her recipes, some of which she's been tweaking since she worked and baked for the brunch spot in Liberty Village, School.
Cheddar and Chive Biscuits ($3.50) are said to be one of the most popular items on the menu. They can also be purchased as a pack of 12 frozen mini scones to take home ($6).
The biscuits are nicely complimented with a bit of Vanilla Honey Butter that Pelusa whips up herself with real vanilla and honey.
The Lemon Blueberry Bundt ($4) comes drizzled with a fresh lemon peel glaze. You’ll find chunks of blueberries when you break into one.
The Banana Bread ($3.50) looks closer to a bundt itself and takes a bit of a spin-off of the childhood favourite, drizzled with a hint of dolce de leche topping.
Meanwhile, the Coffee Cake and Walnut Streusel ($4.50) consists of a vanilla sponge cake with a crumbly brown sugar walnut streusel on the top. The bits of walnut provides a bit of crunch.
A selection of dips including hummus ($6), whipped feta ($9) and confit garlic labneh ($8), and citrus-marinated olives ($7) are also displayed for purchase at the counter from The Good Fork, which her fiance owns.
All of the espresso-based drinks are made with two shots unless requested otherwise and with Rufino coffee and an Elektra espresso machine. She also sells a medium-roast drip from Rufino's Bloor Street Blend.
Besides the more traditional options, you can opt for a lavender, vanilla or maple latte. The lavender latte is prepared with a simple syrup that's made with steeped lavender buds for a nice amount of floral notes.
All of the teas are from The Honest Leaf. Peluso worked with the owner there to come up with her own house blend for the cafe. The finished product is a herbal Chamomile Rose with orange oil.
Emily Rose stands in the same spot that used to occupy the neighbourhood's corner convenience store, offering up coffees, carefully-made treats and a welcoming atmosphere to all who enter.
Hector Vasquez