Introducing: Bonne Journée, a new French bakery on Queen East with a Tunisian twist
For those visiting Bonne Journée, Tunisian ex-pat Hitchem Charfi’ s new French bakery on Queen Street East, it helps to know that from 1869 to 1956, Tunisia was a French protectorate. Hence the unique—in Toronto at least—combination of French baked goods with a short menu of sandwiches concealing North African spicing and flavours (think: ham and cheese croissants with harissa mayo). Charfi grew up in Sfax, on the Tunisian coast, and came to Toronto at the age of 18. After a less than happy stint as a credit analyst for Amex—“the day I left was one of the happiest days of my life”—he headed off to France to stage for his cousins who own bakeries in Paris and learn the trade.
Open since early October, Bonne Journée took over a space formerly occupied by a Christmas shop. Between the soft grey exposed brick walls and original leaded glass windows, the place is tiny: there’s only room enough for four seats and a small oven, which means that Charfi is constantly baking small batches of his breads, pastries and quiches, all day long (the shop has received a very strong response from the neighbourhood, which isn’t quite Leslieville and isn’t quite the Beach). The selection includes baguettes ($2.50) and multigrain loaves ($4), as well as sweeter things like éclairs ($3.25), cream puffs ($3.25) and mille feuilles ($3.25). Charfi’s wife, Emily Boivin (a transplanted Montrealer), heads up front of house, and also makes her speciality, veal terrine, which Charfi slips between slices of freshly baked baguette ($4.75/$7.75). Charfi plans on producing about 12 pastries and six breads every day, and soon, will be adding a tiny Tunisian mini-mart of specialty grocery items.
175041 Take-home spinach and cheese quiche ($12) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee17/ nov12bonnejournee17 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175040 (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee16/ nov12bonnejournee16 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175039 Olive boules ($3.50) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee15.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee15/ nov12bonnejournee15 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175037 Butter croissant sandwiches with ham, cheese and Tunisian mayo ($4.75) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee13/ nov12bonnejournee13 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175036 Macarons ($1) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee12/ nov12bonnejournee12 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175035 A cream puff, close up ($3.25) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee11/ nov12bonnejournee11 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175034 Éclairs, cream puffs and mille feuilles (all $3.25 each) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee10.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee10/ nov12bonnejournee10 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175031 Cross section of a Paris-brest ($3.50) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee07/ nov12bonnejournee07 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175030 Paris-Brest ($3.50): choux pastry with hazelnut purée and chocolate (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee06/ nov12bonnejournee06 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175029 Palmiers ($0.75) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee05.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee05/ nov12bonnejournee05 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175028 This multi-grain seed bread is currently the top seller ($4) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee04/ nov12bonnejournee04 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175027 Fruit tarts ($4.00) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee03/ nov12bonnejournee03 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175026 Lunettes ($1.60): golden puff pastry with chocolate chips (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee02/ nov12bonnejournee02 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175025 Charfi’s baguettes are part sourdough, part yeast ($2.50) (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee01.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee01/ nov12bonnejournee01 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175042 Owner and baker Hitchem Charfi (Image: Signe Langford) Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee18.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee18/ nov12bonnejournee18 0 0
(Image: Signe Langford)
175044 Introducing: Bonne Journée Introducing: Bonne Journée https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nov12BonneJournee_intro.jpg 656 438 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-bonne-journee/slide/nov12bonnejournee_intro/ nov12bonnejournee_intro 0 0
Bonne Journée , 1576 Queen St. E., 647-686-2911
“he headed off to France to stage for his cousins who own bakeries in Paris and learn the trade.” Should that maybe read “he headed off to France to apprentice with his cousins who own bakeries in Paris and learn the trade”? A “stage” is an apprenticeship/traineeship/internship in French.
too bad they have to serve veal. Do they get how veal is produced? We can only hope foie gras won’t be on the menu.
Looks delicious! Bon Courage :)
I moved here from France and am so happy since Bonne Journee opened in our neighborhood. It is an authentic boulangerie – the baguette is as good as any I’ve had in Paris, the croissant and pain au chocolate are amazing, but it is the pain ronde that my children keep asking for – and it’s not even sweet! They are friendly and a real go-to point and asset for our neighborhood of Not-Quite-Leslieville-Not-Quite-Beach-but-Best-Bits-of-Each.