(Toronto) Best custard tarts?

[mainja]

I have discovered a love of custard tarts (Pasteis de Nata). I get them from Novera, but I'm wondering, where do you get your favourite custard tarts from?

[mainja]

As promised, here are the results of the side by side comparison of caldense bakery and novera... (and what a great excuse to have two tarts instead of one!)

There were two people doing the test, me and my mum. For my mum it was totally blind, I used coloured toothpicks so she had to choose red or green.

We both agreed that caldense tarts had better pastry and novera had better custard.

On the whole, since the custard to pastry ratio means much more custard, and since the novera pastry was still good, just not *as* good, we decided that we prefer novera. But we certainly wouldn't turn our noses up at caldense, since they were also delicious. Really, it was choosing the better of two delicious things...

[Davwud]

After reading this post and not having had a custard tart in a few years I made the trek to Caldense. They're fantastic. I took some home for the wife as well and she was wowed by them.

DT

[mainja]

Thanks for the reccomendations everyone! I'm going to make my way to Caldense today. I might get some Novera ones too and do a side by side tasting - all in the name of science you understand... ;)

[Food Tourist]

The first natas I ever tried were at Golden Wheat on College Street and I was awed by the chewy yet crispy flaky crust - this was 1.5 years ago and I've never been able to replicate that awesome first experience! But I'm still a huge fan of natas, and buy them at Caldense, Nova Era, Golden Wheat, or really anywhere or anytime I see them! (Some are sweeter than others, which I don't prefer, but I need to do a side-by-side comparison and then report back properly on taste and texture).

[chowgal]

Caldense bakery (on Bloor, just east of Dufferin) has the best!! I buy about 6 and by the time I get home on the subway, there are only 1 or 2 left.

[cutehinano]

Is there a Caldense Bakery on Bloor as well? I know there is one on Dundas between Dufferin and Ossington but haven't been in. There is also a Novaera on the north side, and 2 bakeries with custard tarts on Ossington. I think one of them is called Columbia - they said they do not make their own custard tarts though.

Does anyone know if any of these bakeries actually make fresh custard tarts?

[shana]

the portuguese BBQ chicken place across from paddingtons in the St. Lawrence market has good ones. In the morning sometimes they've been still warm when I've gotten them......mmmmm

[dinin and dishin]

These may be along a different line, but Lai Wah Hen serves the most divine little custard tarts as part of their lunch dim sum menu. They are out of this world, and even though I am usually stuffed at the end of a meal, I always save room for these little bits of heaven.

[embee]

Europa on Danforth east of Pape has delicious Portuguese custard tarts. I'd advise staying away from their Greek pastries, though. They have been positively reviewed and look good, but are permeated with strong artificial flavours. The owner is Portuguese :-)

[ssainani]

my favourite is just a few stores west of Novera on bloor.

'caldense bakery' which is 997 Bloor W i think?

much better than novera in my tart eatting opinion

[FEDup]

I agree, I prefer Caldense. The crust is much thinner and flakier....much more comparable to the tarts you purchase in Portugal.

There are several Caldense locations in Toronto. The one I frequent is on Dundas West, just west of Runnymede. There is another one at Dundas and Ossington.