I was on a mission to taste the legendary buttermilk scone.

It was not exactly the warmest of spring days in Toronto, but because I was determined to try the buttermilk scones from Kitten and the Bear, I decided it was worth it to walk 35 minutes to its location on Dundas Street West from my hotel.

The exterior hints at a quaint, cozy interior, with simple signage featuring the shop’s signature offerings - trinkets for the home, gifts for friends, and treasures for you to collect (just wait until you see their fully stocked shelves of jams and curated tea selection!)

It was late in the afternoon already by the time I arrived, and there was just one other table with 2 guests seated enjoying the last bites of their scones and tea. I was immediately captivated by the beautiful teacups and saucer collection meticulously arranged and displayed on one side of the wall.

Given we have all been spending more time at home in the past few weeks (and will likely continue to spend more time at home in the upcoming months), bringing one of these beautifully designed tea sets home would allow you to relax with your favourite tea. Whether you fancy a solid pink, ornate floral pattern or more extravagant details like specks of gold, you will spend a good portion of time debating what to bring home.

And did we mention all the different creative jam flavours?

How can one choose between Strawberry, Raspberry & Cream, Damson Plum & Earl Grey, Blend of Four Berries or Wild Blueberry & Chai? These are just their signature flavours, we haven’t even broached the variety of classic, savoury and seasonal flavours.

I will be the first to admit that I spent a good 15 minutes peering at the different flavours before finally deciding on 2 signature flavours. My plan was to try the other 2 signature flavours at home and try the Damson Plum & Earl Grey right away with one of their Signature Buttermilk scones (and the last one that day!)

The seating area features rustic, exposed bricks, plush, forest green velvet booth seating contrasted against baby pink chairs; add to this the white marble table tops and beautiful hanging lighting fixtures with floral details, the simple interiors with this thoughtful mix of textures and colours make for the perfect photo backdrop.

Since I was the last guest of the day enjoying my scone at 4 PM, I got the most coveted seat in the space, the circular table by the window, where I could gaze aimlessly out the window at passerby wrapped up in their scarves bracing against the strong winds as I sipped my hot tea.

I broke the buttermilk scone with my fingers and buttery crumbs fell onto the plate; the tart flavour of the Damson Plum & Earl Grey jam was the perfect complement to the crumbly scone. It wasn’t long before the scone disappeared from the plate along with generous amounts of the jam. If you are like me and you prefer crumbly scones to softer, more doughy options, you would want to devour each bite with copious amounts of jam. The delicious butter from the scone melts in your mouth, balanced by the sweet yet tart taste of the jam. If the scone I was enjoying wasn’t the last one, I am sure I would have gone for seconds(!)

There are a variety of other home goods that will keep your mind preoccupied as your debate what to buy when you leave. Small silverware spoons to go with the various tea sets, tea steepers, and of course, an aromatic selection of loose leaf teas. As an avid tea collector, a visit to Kitten and the Bear was the perfect way for me to relax at the end of my work trip.

I highly recommend visiting with a friend, or in my case I went alone, to savour the afternoon sunshine in this cozy space. Grab a seat by the window and lose track of time.

Visit

1414 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON

kittenandthebear.com

(647) 926-9711

Photos by Florence Leung