Inspired by Rob's search for doughnut last year, I was determined to seek out zeppole before they disappear after Easter. Coincidentally, I came across a write-up from Toronto Life which heaped praises on this Italian pastry so there was no escape from a visit to an Italian bakery before Easter.
Italian pastry is something which I am rather unfamiliar other than the fact that I adore eating panettone and biscotti but hate making tiramisu. I was dazzled by the selection of specialty Easter bread available at Aida's Pinevalley Bakery in Woodbridge. Aside from zeppole, there were all kinds of enriched sweet bread including Columba Pasquale in dove shape and glazed with chocolate. The ones that really tickle my fancy are the bread embedded with Easter eggs. I know that it is very symbolic yet a tinted hardboiled egg (with shell!) inside fluffy bread makes no sense to my baker's mind. All the more reason why I had to try it myself!
The zeppole tasted great with the luscious pastry cream inside a deep-fried pate-a-choux shell. My favourite part was the subtle sweetness from the amarena cherries. I am very tempted to go back for more before they disappear until next year...though I am looking forward to enjoying hot cross buns from Brick Street Bakery...oh, decisions...
Aida's Pinevalley Bakery
830 Rowntree Dairy Road
Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
