I love finding hidden food gems in Edmonton. Hole-in-the-wall, off the beaten track or perhaps in some unsuspecting neighbourhood, not the newest and hippest places in town but ones that have a solid, loyal following because their product is delicious.
That’s why I was delighted to discover Canova Pasticceria – a tiny Italian bakery located just north of Yellowhead Trail and 125 Street, in a very unassuming building in a fairly industrial looking stretch of town by the railroad tracks.
Canova Pasticceria at 12667 125 Street.
Canova (formerly called De Fazio Gourmet) is run by a husband and wife duo Kris and Carla, who make fine Italian pastries from scratch. Biscotti, panettone, cornetti, amaretti, brioche, pumpkin and banana loaves, sweets and savouries like fruit danishes, mini bundt cakes, foccacia, nutella brownie cakes, and their special Gemelli fruit and nut bars made from their biscotti crumbs. The bars are named after their twin boys (‘Gemelli’ means ‘twins’ in Italian!)
They’ve been in the wholesale business for about five years (selling their biscotti to different shops) then ventured into pastries a couple of years ago. They’ve been selling at the St. Albert Farmers’ Market and have catered events / hosted coffee bars at weddings and now their products are even sold at Sobeys, Sunterra and Save-on Foods – but I’d honestly never heard of them ’til now!
See – hidden gem.
Gifted mama with Canova Pasticceria treats!
But Canova doesn’t want to be so hidden anymore – rightfully so!
When you’ve got such a great product, more people should know about it. So they reached out to see if I wanted to try some of their pastries, which I happily obliged. :)
I brought my mama a bunch of Canova treats for her birthday (a bit selfishly – because I knew she’d share it with the whole family including us! heh heh).
We got some loaves, the various biscotti flavours, gemelli bars, cornetti, danishes, savoury pastries, etc.
My family couldn’t get enough of the cornetti – like a croissant but sweeter/richer, filled with vanilla.
Anything Nutella (using real Nutella) is obviously a guaranteed winner. And I also really love their biscotti (lemon pistachio yogurt and cranberry orange with white chocolate are my favourites!)
Canova is all about quality.
They use 83% New Zealand butter, whole milk, whole eggs and real vanilla, fresh fruits and vegetables, real Nutella (real Nutella guys!), natural yeast in their artisan panettone, all baked in small batches.
The prices for their products are stellar too. Large pastries, like the danishes or cornettis run $2.75 each. Brownies are $2. Amarettis are $1. Loaves are $1.75 by the slice or $10.50 for a full loaf. Savoury treats are $3. Mini danishes $1.75.
Incredibly well-priced!
Big fan of the biscotti.
My discovery of Canova comes at a perfect time – with the holidays coming up these beautifully wrapped and delicious, quality Italian treats will make for some great (and affordable) gifts!
It’s recommended you pre-order (call the shop) because they run out of items each day. It’s also in such an obscure location – best to make sure they’ve got the items in before you make the trek there!
Bonus: Canova is serving and selling Caffe Umbria coffee exclusively in Edmonton. It’s suggested you pair your Italian pastries with Caffe Umbria coffee. ;)
Check out my pal Diane’s Canova experience here, and Liv/The Globe and Mail’s story.
And enter below to win a $25 Canova gift card (with their prices – $25 will get you lots of great items!)
** GIVEAWAY **
Enter to win a $25 gift card to Canova Pasticceria
To enter:
- Leave a comment on this post, telling me what you’d most like to try from Canova!
- Note: you must leave a comment on this post in order to qualify to win!
- Follow me on Twitter (@lindork)
- Follow Canova on Twitter (@canovayeg)
- Follow Canova on Instagram (@canovayeg)
- Like my Facebook Page: Lindork – Linda Hoang
- Share this tweet:
- Love discovering #yegfood hidden gems! Have you heard of @CanovaYEG? Hope I win @lindork’s giveaway: http://bit.ly/2fmVisq #yeg
- Note: You can tweet this daily for more entries!
Also, comments are moderated so if yours doesn’t appear right away, don’t worry.
Please let me know which entries you’ve done in the comments too.
I’ll pick a random winner out of all entries after the contest closes on Friday, November 18, 2016.
Linda
Disclaimer: I will always provide my 100% honest opinion on this blog. Canova reached out to see if I would try their products (complimentary) and provide a review.
39 Comments
Would love to try their goodies. I love supporting local business and finding a gem.
I would love to try the Cornetti. I love a good pastry.
I love amarettis so that is what I am excited about!
I did all the entries for the contest.
I would like to try everything they have to offer because pastries of all sort are my favourite!
I dream of that cornetti…and am dying to try the pannetone!
Oh, and I did all the things!
Would love to try the Cornetti and everything else really! Also, did all the entries for the contest:)
Those pastries look amazing!
Nutella brownie cake sounds delicious. Did all above too followed on facebook twitter ans instagram
Cornetti sounds delist!
I’d totally go for the cornetti, Nutella croissants and Nutella brownies! I follow you on FB and Twitter, and Canova on Twitter and IG!
OMG, I want to try every single item! Okay, I will start with a Cornetti.
(all entries have been completed)
Is it ok to lick the screen? Everything looks so fresh and delicious, would love to try the vanilla cornetti!
Its all about the coffee!!!
I want to try it all haha especially the cornetti! :)
Classic baguettes with olive oil and balsamic is my fav!
I did all the entry options and most of all I want to try the tomato olive feta onion tart! All of it is amazing looking!
I would loveee to try the cornetti!!
(I also entered in all the other entries too :p)
Nutella cornetti pleaase! I follow you on FB and Twitter, and Canova
I’ve been meaning to check out Canova for quite some time as Carla used to work with my husband. If I win the gift certificate, I would definitely go and visit and pick up some biscotti since that was the product that started it all. But I would not be opposed to trying other goodies.
Just dropped by and got an assortment of goodies to try!
That all sounds fab. I am now craving a cranberry orange with white chocolate biscotti. I follow you and Canova on Twitter, and you on FB.
Cornetti – you had me at Vanilla. Only about 1/2 hour away from the Yellowhead – never seen this place, intrigued. HIdden gems : another: The Unheard Of Restaurant South Edmonton. Thanks for the chance would make a great stocking stuffer. Will be visiting.
I’d like to try their Pannetone!
I have done all the entries, and will dream of biting into a cornetti soon!
Now that the drool is cleared off my keyboard, Id like to try the biscotti!
so I could not wait and went there today—biscotti and coffee were amazing–would love to go again~!!
Mmmm, I want to try the danishes!
I did all the entries!
Would love to try their goodies. I love supporting local business and finding a gem.
I have followed you and Canova on twitter, liked your facebook page and tweet daily.
Seriously Linda, I’m supposed to pick just one thing to try? Are you kidding me? I want a sampling party! lol Regs, Bernice
I would love to try the croissants. There’s nothing like a freshly baked croissant with a cup of coffee to start your day right.
I really want to try the Cornetti and the Brownies! I am also following you and Canova Bakery on twitter and I tweeted as well under @seniorservicebc
The cornetti sounds sooo good!
Savory Pastries…………..YUM!! I’d try anything, but I haven’t had a decent pastry since I left small town Saskatchewan, 14 years ago….
I would love to try these. Yum! !
Wondering who won the prize