Not a Lunch for Carb Counters

In the summer of 2023 I posted about a pair of fantastic bakeries in the Philly region – K’Far Cafe in Center City and Ardour Bakery and Coffee in Ridley Park. It took much longer than anticipated for me to return to Ardour given its relative proximity to where I live, but it finally happened earlier this month when my friend Brenda met me there for a high-carb lunch. 

The handful of tables available to those wishing to eat or drink their coffee on sight were all taken when we arrived, but we managed to grab a couple counter stools by the front window until one opened up. 

There are very few sights I find more appealing than shelves filled with baked goods. While the selection was perhaps not quite as extensive as it was for my last visit, the variety and artistry behind each item was still extremely impressive. 

I managed to capture at least most of what was on hand behind the counter that day.

In addition to sweets, Ardour offers a few savory options, most of them sandwiches. Brenda opted for a caprese sandwich on a croissant and one of their seasonal drink specials – a pumpkin spice latte. 

She raved about the sandwich and the pesto that came on it.

Although I wasn’t in a sandwich mood, there was one savory item in the pastry case that grabbed my attention. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say I loved the leek-parmesan bistro during that earlier visit to Ardour, so when I saw one remaining in the case, I couldn’t resist requesting it. 

If that was my main course, for dessert I chose a lemon curd tart that had a beautiful layer of meringue on top. 

The leek-parmesan bistro was every bit as delicious as I remembered. While there were no discernable chunks of leek, the flavor of both named ingredients shone through brilliantly, while the crust was as buttery and flaky as one could hope for. 

And the tart was also fantastic, with the lemon curd striking just the right balance of sweet and tart, while the crust was firm, but not annoyingly so.  

When we had finished lunch, I sauntered back up to the counter for another ogling session with the intent of picking a few things to take home to enjoy with my wife that evening. 

Both the pistachio and ricotta cake and the passion cake appeared to be items that would likely appeal to my wife, so I asked for a slice of each. And I couldn’t resist requesting the last almond bear claw, another item that I enjoyed immensely when last visiting Ardour. 

I’m sure it’s no surprise that we enjoyed all three items. My wife’s favorite was the pistachio and ricotta cake, while mine was probably the almond bear claw. But all three were sensational. The passion cake included layers of what was likely passion fruit curd and a feathery light cake. 

Making most of my eating for the day an assortment of baked goods isn’t something I do on anywhere near a regular basis. But Ardour is an excellent setting for those rare occasions when it does happen.