Georgian baker making a name for himself in Vancouver with authentic European bakery
Mia Stainsby
Sun
Otari Kobalia, owner of European Breads Bakery, poses with a basket full of authentic Georgian baguettes. Photograph by : Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun
The last time I wrote about European Breads and Bakery, I told you about their Georgian baguette made here and sold in Vancouver stores like Whole Foods, Capers, Famous Foods and other stores. The irregular alligator shape, the little tug of war it engages with the teeth are marks of hand-crafted artisan bread. Sliced open, it makes a wonderful sandwich, welcoming all fillings.
At the home base, on Fraser Street, you can find these alligator breads already made into sandwiches. Owner Otari Kobalia, a native of Georgia (itself sandwiched between Russia and Turkey), has breadmaking in his genes. His mother’s family name translates to Miller and he calls breadmaking an “emotional process.”
At his bakery/deli, you’ll find Georgian baguette sandwiches with hummus, turkey, ham, veggie chicken or BLT fillings. Team it with Russian borscht and you’ve got lunch for about $9.
The deli case also holds Georgian cheese pies ($2.50). He couldn’t get the Georgian cheese for it but replicates it with a mix of feta, mozzarella and cottage cheese. The samsa is a close ringer to samosa but the spices differ. You can get it with pumpkin, chicken or beef fillings.
Pyrogies are handmade, he says, with a choice of turkey, beef, pork, potato or potato-cheese fillings.
As well, there is a display case full of pastries, including a vegan apple pie made at low temperature and made with healthy ingredients, like grape oil and organic cane sugar. The Napolean cake, he says, was created to commemorate the 1812 Russian battle where Napolean was run out of town.
See www.europeanbreads.com for shops where Georgian baguettes are available.
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AT A GLANCE
European Breads and Bakery
4324 Fraser St., 604-879-5177.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006