Taiwanese pastry shop Bake Code opens at Yonge and Sheppard

The first Canadian outpost of Bake Code, a Taiwanese import from the people who brought the Chatime tea chain to the GTA, opens today at Yonge and Sheppard. Bake Code isn’t a typical Chinatown bakery: while it serves some Spadina staples (pork floss buns, sausage rolls, swiss rolls), this franchise specializes in Asian-European mash-ups like chocolate baguette, baguette baked around a sausage and the mentaiko baguette, where the loaf is cut lengthwise and topped with fish roe, lemon juice, wasabi and mayonnaise. Even the plain French-style baguette incorporates Asian techniques—instead of a crusty exterior, the loaves are soft and chewy, almost crustless. “They have that Asian mouthfeel,” explains co-owner Thomas Wong. A bread timetable (a sandwich board that lists almost 100 different baked goods and their respective baking times) details when loaves are being pulled fresh from the oven. Desserts are also available, including, of course, this year’s trendiest: Japanese cheesecake.

4910 Yonge St., 647-346-3888, bakecode.com, @bakecode