Restaurant Review: Millie Creperie
MILLIE CREPERIE
161 Baldwin Street ~ milliedesserts.com Instagram: @millie.desserts ~ Twitter: @milliecreperie Co-Diner: Tim Golem
When it comes to crepes you'll likely automatically think of the French (ahem, crêpe) super-thin pancake-like situation that you roll various fillings into. The crepes at Millie are similar, however they serve them Japanese-style, which incorporates a lot of interesting and different ingredients rolled into a cone shape. They first appeared in Harajuku, Tokyo. blogTO named them #1 Best Crepes in Toronto and I was anxious to give them a try! Located in Kensington Market, this spot might be the epitome of a "hole-in-the-wall." It's super tiny, there isn't anything especially nice about it, and the decor is bare-bones (there are a few Japanese-esque images taped to the wall). However none of this matters at all, because by now everyone should know that some of the best, most authentic food comes out of places like these. They only accept cash, so come prepared. There was one employee behind the counter who was decently nice (albeit slightly bewildered) and a second employee sitting at a table who seemed to be "not working" but was sort of working. Speaking of tables, there are only about four of them, so expect minimal seating. At this point I was very curious as to how the food itself was going to taste. Both savoury and sweet crepes are on offer, listed on chalkboard menus. We decided to make a dinner out of it, starting with savoury crepes, of which there are 12 to choose from. Some of them were already sold out, thankfully not the ones that I wanted. I gravitated instantly to the most interesting and most "Japanese" selections available. We ordered two different ones to share. The preparation time was about 10-15 minutes and we did not mind at all. First out was the Kakuni Crunch ($7.52).
An exciting combination of flavours and textures for the adventurous; Cheese, cornflakes, miso and soy-glazed pork belly, spicy mayo, and cucumber.
I loved the sound of this crepe as it was surely the most interesting item on the menu. Cutlery isn't really provided and the idea behind Japanese crepes is that you'll eat them handheld as you walk around. It's very much a to-go food (which might explain why the restaurant location doesn't need to look like much). I dove in! The crepe itself was beautifully light, thin, and crisp around the edges. The flavour was sweet and delicate, exactly as a crepe should be. I absolutely loved all of the unique ingredients! The pork belly was beautifully tender (albeit slightly gelatinous for my taste, as is the nature of pork belly), the spicy mayo offered a great kick, the cornflakes added amazing texture and crunch, and the cucumber brought some much-needed freshness. The mild cheese was amazing, wonderfully melty and gooey. It all sounds a bit crazy and it all worked so well! We unanimously decided that this crepe was incredibly delicious (so much so, that we ended up ordering a second one!). Second to arrive was the Okonomiyaki ($7.52).
Their twist on the Japanese pancake. Egg, cabbage, carrot, okonomi sauce, Japanese mayo, and bonito flakes.
An okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake from Osaka. (I have eaten one in Osaka! See photo!) So I felt as if I had a decently good idea of what direction the flavours in this crepe should be going in. Again, the crepe itself was absolutely perfect. One of the main highlights in both the pancake and this crepe is the saucy okonomi sauce. It overtakes the flavours quite a lot and adds a distinct umami aspect. The cabbage and carrot were nice, adding some good texture. I felt that the mayo got a bit lost and I couldn't even tell if bonito flakes were used at all. As you can see, the pancake is absolutely covered in bonito, so I expected it to be a more prominent ingredient. The flavours were good - it did taste a lot like an okonomiyaki. However I also found it a bit too muddled overall and a lot messier to eat, too. We couldn't leave Millie without trying a sweet crepe! Not only do they sell sweet crepes, but they also make parfaits as well as crepe cakes. We obviously chose the Japanese Special ($7.95).
A classic Japanese combination. Matcha gelato with strawberry, azuki, matcha sauce, freshly whipped cream.
Such an ideal Japanese treat! Again, the same light, crisp, delicious crepe was in play. The matcha gelato was perfect, bursting with the creamy bright flavours of green tea. The azuki was an interesting touch, much like a paste in texture. I especially loved the whipped cream, which truly did taste fresh and beautiful - nothing from a can here! It was airy like a cloud! You really can't go wrong with this, it's all such a classic. Millie Creperie is the perfect spot if you're strolling through Kensington Market and are craving some portable Japanese flavours. Their prices are incredibly reasonable and the portions are quite large. I'd love to try their Green Tea Parfait the next time that I'm there.