For the freshest baklavas and the plumpest doughnuts, Montreal foodies know to head to Beaubien Street East. Right on the corner of De Gaspé Avenue sits an unpretentious little bakery, Boulangerie Samos, where the baking traditions of Greece are authentically (and deliciously) honoured. “Our customers particularly love our baklavas, which are melt-in-your-mouth flaky,” proclaims Nikola Kotis, baker and owner of Boulangerie Samos. “Many people stop by to buy a few doughnuts, another one of our specialties. They are sweet and tender, and when they’re fresh out of the oven, they’re irresistible. Our range of home-baked bread is also a staple for the neighbourhood, just like our Greek empanadas, which are made from scratch right here.”
One thing is certain, residents of Rosemont will have a delightful time exploring the baking traditions of Greece at Samos. “Lots of little families stop by to discover the flavours of Greek pastries.” It is true that Greece’s culinary heritage often gets overshadowed by its French and Italian counterparts, but Greece has no reason to envy its neighbours, and has a proud ambassador in Samos.