Having a sweet tooth is in the d'Amoro family’s genes. “I started cooking with my parents and grandparents when I was very little; they are big fans of good food and good desserts, and that’s something they passed down to me,” proclaims Vanessa D'Amoro, owner of Old Montreal bakery Bar à beurre. “I decided to take a basic course in pastry making, and I loved it; it inspired me to seek more formal training. So I went to Ottawa to study at Cordon Bleu.”
Upon returning to Montreal, Vanessa opened her own small bakery, where she could be free to experiment with her unique recipes. “When I told my parents the news, they were so happy that they gave me their full support. So when you drop by Bar à beurre, it’s a little like visiting the D'Amoro home; my dad Pietro takes care of the bread, my mother Linda is in charge of sweets and preserves, and I handle the bakery side of things.”