67 replies to this topic

[maxmillan]

Bought a small stollen from Thomas Haas for $18. It is very sweet for a stollen. However, I thought stollens are supposed to be shaped like baby Jesus swathed in his blanket. This one is almost rectangular

I've heard of Four Season's stollen. Is it too late to order? Does anyone know if I could simply buy a slice? Last year I faintly remember someone having tea with stollen at FS.

Does Mixx bakery have stollens this year and is it good?

Does Notte's Bon Ton have stollen? I hesitate to try it out as I thought their Pannetone was terrible. Does their stollen fair any better?

Thought this thread needed a bump for the season.

[barolo]

Yes, I was thinking about this thread too. I'm going to check out the Four Seasons this week to see if they are offering stollen this year. I didn't see anything on their web site. I'll report back.

[eatrustic]

Bought a small stollen from Thomas Haas for $18.  It is very sweet for a stollen.  However, I thought stollens are supposed to be shaped like baby Jesus swathed in his blanket.  This one is almost rectangular

I noticed the same thing when I stopped by Senses last week to see if they were out yet.
He has two sizes: the small one for $18. and the larger size for $25. (Seems like the price creeps up each year). The large one is the classic "baby jesus" shape and if you are willing to pay $25. for an 800gr. Stollen then the $18. version seems like a ripoff as it is a lot smaller and as mentioned is just a quickly made rectangle.

Perhaps it's because I bought one earlier this year but they are nice and moist. Perhaps more suited to N. American tastes.
...and just like last year one slice leads to another until....$25 bucks and a day and a half later...

[Veghead]

Is there much of a difference between stollen and panettone?

[eatrustic]

Is there much of a difference between stollen and panettone?

Panettone is made with eggs as well as butter and is much lighter (the reason it needs to be in a mold to rise). Stollen has no egg and is relatively dense, sort of like a yeasted shortbread texture.

[Panosmex]

Is there much of a difference between stollen and panettone?

Panettone is made with eggs as well as butter and is much lighter (the reason it needs to be in a mold to rise). Stollen has no egg and is relatively dense, sort of like a yeasted shortbread texture.

There are undoubtely variations. I've always made stollen, both at home and professionally, with eggs. I'd describe it as a rich, yeasted, fruit and nut coffee bread.

[barolo]

Four Seasons does have stollen. They are a small rectangle - about 6 inches by 3, I'd say - and sell for $18 including GST. They are available for sale at a small table in the reception area.

Also Quince is offering stollen this year, I don't know about the prices, sizes etc.

[jchaput]

Four Seasons does have stollen.  They are a small rectangle - about 6 inches by 3, I'd say - and sell for $18 including GST. They are available for sale at a small table in the reception area.

These sound like a perfect size for my lunchbox. Do you know what hours they are available for sale? I tasted this at a 4-seasons dinner a few years back and it was fantastic. I didn't know you could buy them.

[barolo]

Four Seasons does have stollen.  They are a small rectangle - about 6 inches by 3, I'd say - and sell for $18 including GST. They are available for sale at a small table in the reception area.

These sound like a perfect size for my lunchbox. Do you know what hours they are available for sale? I tasted this at a 4-seasons dinner a few years back and it was fantastic. I didn't know you could buy them.

Sorry, I don't know. I was there after work, around 5:30 pm.

You could call the reception desk and ask them to hold one for you, since they are open 24/7. The Four Seasons is the kind of place that will make some effort to accommodate you in my experience.

[shona m f pearson]

REALLY good stollen at Mix Bakery, and probably they'll sample it again but yesterday I ate all the samples. Now am compelled to go back and get a whole one for me !!
Swedish date had a fruit coffee cake thing he really enjoyed . Hope he doesn't notice if I bring home and slightly hide whole stollen ...
Very appealing cafe - we were happy to find such a great spot in a neighbourhood we pass through....
Sorry but no info on price - distracted entirely by deliciousness.

[gingerpeachy]

I bought a stollen at Quince yesterday - a very reasonable $8.

It isn't quite the right shape - too rectangular and flat, and the dough is lighter than I was expecting. But the fruit (candied in-house, I believe) and marzipan were top notch and it didn't have the cloying sweetness that I find often ruins this bread.

[barolo]

Thanks gingerpeachy, I thought Quince might be a good source.

Here's a nice description of a "Stollen Parade" in Dresden:

I was in Dresden, on Saturday, and the Christmas market there is mind-boggling: gingerbread, stollen, schneeballen . There was some kind of parade of culinary professionals along the edge of the market, too, in Old Town, including the Dresden Stollen team, who were carrying a samurai-sized sword/stollen-cutting knife on a wooden display slung over their shoulders. Along with them, marched butchers and a bunch of chefs. I love a town that throws a parade for food professionals. 

from this thread elsewhere on eG.

[eatrustic]

Couldn't resist and tried a free sample being offered by Cobbs. Their Stollen is $14.95 and the sample, although made the day before, was dry and not particularly flavourful. I got the usual speech about how they get better as they get older blah, blah (I know it's true when they are well made, although the German style is drier than we seem to like here). ....But if it's already dry it can't improve much more.
Now I wonder if anyone has tasted the Marco Ropke stollen mentioned here last year? I checked his website and don't see them being offered. I heard they were pricey as well.

So far Thomas Hass reigns supreme.

[barolo]

It is that time of year again. Anyone with stollen reports?

Last year I bought the Four Seasons version which was excellent - are they offering stollen again this year?

[jchaput]

It is that time of year again.  Anyone with stollen reports? 

Last year I bought the Four Seasons version which was excellent - are they offering stollen again this year?

My favorite stollen last year was the 4 seasons. I just called, and the person answering the phone said they are not selling them this year!

[barolo]

It is that time of year again.  Anyone with stollen reports? 

Last year I bought the Four Seasons version which was excellent - are they offering stollen again this year?

My favorite stollen last year was the 4 seasons. I just called, and the person answering the phone said they are not selling them this year!

Thanks for checking that out, even though the answer is disappointing. Any chance of Les Amis getting into the baking business?

[jchaput]

It is that time of year again.  Anyone with stollen reports? 

Last year I bought the Four Seasons version which was excellent - are they offering stollen again this year?

My favorite stollen last year was the 4 seasons. I just called, and the person answering the phone said they are not selling them this year!

Thanks for checking that out, even though the answer is disappointing. Any chance of Les Amis getting into the baking business?

We used to do alot of baking for work when we were on 10th Ave, but not much anymore, except for ourselves. We've got lots of good recipes in our back pocket, so perhaps one day in the new store on Hastings...but that's a ways off. Allison suggested she might make some Stollen for the family.

[eatrustic]

I still think at this point that Thomas Haas has the gold standard for Vancouver. They are selling the small for $16. and the large for $24. Pricey but the quality is there.
Not sure, other than his place in N. Van, where you can get them though.
(That was the only use I had for his outlet downtown before it closed.)

[Edible Vancouver]

Shameless plug...but we are carrying Thomas's Stollen at our Granville Island location (along with his chocolates, hot chocolate, chocolate bars, sparkle cookies and more).

[jchaput]

I've heard that Sutton Place sell them in their bakery. I'll have to try one this week.

[Zucchini Mama]

The Artisan Bake Shoppe in N Van makes tiny decadent Stollen Bites. A friend of mine picked up a box at Whole Foods. They are delicious and kind of ingenious, really. Like 2 bite stollen, and they are oozing with butter.

[jchaput]

went by sutton place today, but they didn't have any. You have to order them.

[RooStew]

It is that time of year again.  Anyone with stollen reports? 

Last year I bought the Four Seasons version which was excellent - are they offering stollen again this year?

My favorite stollen last year was the 4 seasons. I just called, and the person answering the phone said they are not selling them this year!

Thanks for checking that out, even though the answer is disappointing. Any chance of Les Amis getting into the baking business?

I am happy to inform you we are selling stollen this year at Four Seasons.
Simply contact our room service and place an order.
Hope to see you in soon,
Aaron.

[barolo]

It is that time of year again.  Anyone with stollen reports? 

Last year I bought the Four Seasons version which was excellent - are they offering stollen again this year?

My favorite stollen last year was the 4 seasons. I just called, and the person answering the phone said they are not selling them this year!

Thanks for checking that out, even though the answer is disappointing. Any chance of Les Amis getting into the baking business?

I am happy to inform you we are selling stollen this year at Four Seasons.
Simply contact our room service and place an order.
Hope to see you in soon,
Aaron.

Thanks for letting us know Aaron. I'll put in an order tomorrow.

[RooStew]

It is that time of year again.  Anyone with stollen reports? 

Last year I bought the Four Seasons version which was excellent - are they offering stollen again this year?

My favorite stollen last year was the 4 seasons. I just called, and the person answering the phone said they are not selling them this year!

Thanks for checking that out, even though the answer is disappointing. Any chance of Les Amis getting into the baking business?

I am happy to inform you we are selling stollen this year at Four Seasons.
Simply contact our room service and place an order.
Hope to see you in soon,
Aaron.

Thanks for letting us know Aaron. I'll put in an order tomorrow.

Great! Glad I could help. Don't forget to check out our new restaurant when you come in.
Aaron.

[eatrustic]

]I am happy to inform you we are selling stollen this year at Four Seasons.
Simply contact our room service and place an order.
Hope to see you in soon,
Aaron.

Great! Another source for (hopefully) good Stollen. I called the hotel and they are stocking them so we can walk in and pick one up. I tried two years ago to get one but they had just stopped making them and I missed my chance.
They are $20. plus tax.

The Thomas Haas Stollens that are available at Edible Vancouver on Granville Island are his small version and they sell for $19.50. They were out of stock the day I checked in so best to phone to be sure they're available.

[barolo]

]I am happy to inform you we are selling stollen this year at Four Seasons.
Simply contact our room service and place an order.
Hope to see you in soon,
Aaron.

Great! Another source for (hopefully) good Stollen. I called the hotel and they are stocking them so we can walk in and pick one up. I tried two years ago to get one but they had just stopped making them and I missed my chance.
They are $20. plus tax.

I picked one up last night and put it in the freezer to wait for Christmas. $21.05 with tax.

I also took a peek at Yew - it was busy, full of trendy looking (or trying) 30&40 somethings taking a break from shopping. At first glance it looks a little too "generic early 21st century west coast" to me; it doesn't really have a distinctive look that I can associate with the Four Seasons.

Maybe I'll take another look in the New Year when the holiday mayhem has subsided.

[jchaput]

I am happy to inform you we are selling stollen this year at Four Seasons.
Simply contact our room service and place an order.
Hope to see you in soon,
Aaron.

Picked up two. thanks

[eatrustic]

Finally scored a Four Seasons Stollen yesterday and since I was heading to the North Shore anyway I thought I might as well do a comparison of the two "carriage trade" Stollens.
I actually bought both sizes of the Thomas Haas as I wanted a large for Christmas and took one for the team and bought the smaller size as well since it would give a direct comparison to the Four Seasons version.
As you can see they are almost identical in size - 6"x 3 1/2" (the Haas is cheaper at $16.) Most recipes I've seen for Stollens call for the yellow raisins but personally I like either version.



The golden raisin version is Four Seasons and the dark raisin is Thomas Haas.


And whose Stollen reigns supreme? I have to say that they are so close at first tasting that I honestly can't say which is better. Both are nice and moist and the almond paste in each one is of high quality.
The Thomas Haas Stollens might get the edge as the small size is cheaper by about $3. (if bought at his shop) -otherwise the same price if bought at Edible Vancouver (G.I.).

The larger Haas is still the better deal overall as it is easily twice the size and has the traditional shape.
Both make very nice gifts as they come beautifully packaged and in fancy carrying bags.
I can't see there being any better Stollens in Vancouver and perhaps in Canada at this point.
All that's left for my search is to order from one of the really famous artisan bakeries in Germany. They do mail order all the time and this would tell me what the state of the art really is since I've never been to Germany.
It'll have to wait until next year though. Time's just about up!

[barolo]

The larger Haas is still  the better deal overall as it is easily twice the size and has the traditional shape.
Both make very nice gifts as they come beautifully packaged and in fancy carrying bags.
I can't see there being any better Stollens in Vancouver and perhaps in Canada at this point.
All that's left for my search is to order from one of the really famous artisan bakeries in Germany. They do mail order all the time and this would tell me what the state of the art really is since I've never been to Germany.
It'll have to wait until next year though. Time's just about up!

Excellent report, thank you eatrustic. Maybe next year les amis will be baking and we will have a few other contenders.