[Review] Calgary, AB - Mari Bake Shop

529 Riverfront Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1K2

Another bakery popup in Calgary! They are a relatively new establishment that can be found in East Village. The chefs met in London England while they were working together as a head baker and pastry chef for many years before getting together. The husband and wife duo went to visit family in Calgary and then had decided to open a bakery together, which serve cake rolls, choux pastries, tarts, house-made sandwiches and freshly baked breads & pretzels. The items that they are probably the most known for are the roll cakes that they sell in either slices or whole cakes. Roll cakes are Korean-inspired sponge cakes with cream filling. If you however want a specialty flavour in a whole cake form, they usually take orders for them 2 days in advance. 

The roll cakes have rotating flavours, which usually change every day. On some days, they have repeating flavours, but they usually have some new additions to their menu from time to time. Other roll cake flavours I have seen or tried out are black forest, coconut pineapple  salted caramel and a cereal flavoured roll. If you end up following their Instagram, they post their seasonal or holiday flavours - such as the time they had a mint chocolate roll during St. Patrick's day. Each of the cake rolls have their own unique decoration that distinguish them from one another. Whether it be a topping, decoration or different style of cream, Chef Lauren Ahn's attention to detail for the physical features of the cakes also mirrors the unique flavour imparted by each of the cakes.

The breads and pretzels are consistently made throughout the day in small batches. Chef Doug Gregory is the head baker and he bakes in this manner to ensure the freshness of his products for people coming into the bakery at all times of the day. 

ROLL CAKES:

• Rating: 4/5 starfishes (average)

• Price: $4 per slice 

• Flavours: Matcha green tea, chocolate, raspberry, blueberry, mocha and strawberry

• Fluffy cream filling inside each individual rolls with distinct flavour profiles that truly represent the name of each slice.

• Blueberry and chocolate were probably my two favourite flavours of the bunch. 

• Green tea was at the perfect sweetness level, but it did not hinder the matcha flavour of the cake.

LEMON TART:

• Rating: 3.5/5 starfishes

• Price: $6

• Very tart lemon-y flavour.

• The choux itself was a bit harder than I expected, but the lemon flavoured filling itself was unique from the tart filling, where it was sweeter.

I did not have the opportunity to try the sandwiches or the breads, but they looked and smelled delicious. Their sandwich menu is also on a daily rotation so you are sure to get a variety of different baked good options whenever you visit Mari's! Fresh, delicious and unique - what else could you possibly ask for!