GAINESVILLE, Fl.- (BUSINESS WIRE) — Excursions, a half-hour TV show aired nationally to more than 60 million homes, will be filming at LPK’s Culinary Groove when it heads to Toronto for the latest episode in its “Best of …” series.
Excursions’ producers named LPK’s the Best Pastry and Chocolate Shop in Toronto and will feature it on an upcoming episode. LPK’s is a cutting-edge bakery specializing in organic, vegan and gluten-free desserts.
When it comes to more specialized desserts, “I let people taste the samples first,” says owner and executive pastry chef Lesia Kohut. “Then I tell them it’s vegan and/or gluten-free. They’re amazed every time.”
Since opening for business two months ago, LPK’s top sellers have been a vegan and gluten-free Coconut Lime Cake with Lime-Scented Frosting and Spicy Chèvre Noir Shortbread Cookies. Other popular delicacies include Devil's Chocolate Food Cake with Bittersweet Caramel Ganache and Salted Chocolate Buttercream and Peanut Butter Mousse in Edible Chocolate Cups.
Prior to opening LPK’s Culinary Groove, Kohut, who studied at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, among other places, worked at some of Toronto’s finest restaurants and bakeries. She also ran a catering business on the side, making pastries and cakes for special occasions.
When Kohut took maternity leave, she decided it was time to move from her basement kitchen to what she has transformed into an avant-garde pastry and chocolate shop in Toronto’s up-and-coming Riverside neighborhood.
“The store is very lovely,” Kohut says. “It’s not your typical pastry shop or bakery. The feeling that I wanted to have is more akin to an art gallery or jewelry store, more space than product. It feels high end when you walk in, warm and welcoming.”
In keeping with the earth-first sensibilities that inspire Kohut to bake with certified organic, fair trade and local ingredients, her shop was remodeled using “green” materials. Granted, it was not the cheaper route, but Kohut determined a few years ago that when it comes to the environment and her taste buds, there would be no compromise.
“People will come in and ask, ‘What if I don’t want organic?’ Kohut says. “I tell them, ‘everyone gets organic.’ For them, if it’s about the money, it’s generally not about the flavor. You can get less expensive elsewhere. [I’m concerned with the] taste, texture and aroma. You’d be hard-pressed to find better-tasting desserts in the city.”
Excursions TV is a half-hour show dedicated to providing its viewers with a fresh and unique perspective on travel. Each feature tells a story from the insider’s perspective, going behind the scenes to discover the most interesting tales and using the powerful medium of television to relay them. For more information, please call 352/377-8430 or email Chris@463media.com.
