With two sets of Italian grandparents I’ve been spoiled rotten with authentic Italian food. So when I heard that Alati bakery in Saint-Leonard made the best cannoli’s in Montreal, I need to put them to the test. Here is my assessment:
1. Freshness guaranteed: The first sign that these would live up to the hype is when I placed the order at the counter. Rather than pulling the cannoli from a pile in the refrigerated showcase, the lady advised the bakers in the back of my order so that they could start filling the pasty. The result was a crip shell, that wasn’t soggy from sitting around for a few days.
2. The perfect size: I don’t have the biggest sweet tooth, so I don’t like large pieces of desserts. The cannoli’s were roughly the size of a large finger with a good cream to shell ratio. It was the perfect snacking size that kept me coming back for more without an overload of filling.
3. Balanced flavor and texture: This was super important. There are infinite variations on cannoli’s but the authentic version features a ricotta filling with small bits of chocolate. I loved that the texture was firm and not overly sweet or gelatinous. It was evident that the cannoli wasn’t laced with custard or gelatine.
4. Pieces of chocolate: It’s not a cannoli without the chocolate, so I was thrilled at the sparing use of chocolatey bits in the filling.
Verdict: They certainly lived up to their reputation. They are slightly pricey at 21$ for a dozen, but worth it! Check them out for yourself: Alati Bakery 5265 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Saint-Leoneard, QC.
