By Sasha Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 25, 2015
When I first poked my head into Oldhand, it was later in the afternoon, and I was craving some lunch. Their pastry selection was very slim, and I needed something that involved vegetables, so I didn’t stay.
The fellow behind the counter explained that most of their baked good are gone by three. As someone who frequents Duft and Co. in Downtown Abbotsford, I know that’s a very good sign for a bakery.
When I returned, I was in the mood for a coffee and a croissant. The same young fellow was behind the counter — apparently he and his wife run the place. While they’ve been open for just under a month, the place was bustling with a diverse crowd. There was a group of mothers, a couple of grizzled construction workers, and lone students hunched over their Macs.
Oldhand has the friendly and homey atmosphere of Duft and Co. with a distinctly hipster-Instagram vibe. The walls are whitewashed, vintage photos and teaspoons are on the wall, and the benches are pews and school-chairs.
Their pastries looked delicious — brown butter coconut cake, different types of cookies (including huge baked Oreos), and chocolate banana and millet muffins. Their coffee list had all the fixings.
I ordered an Americano and a croissant. The pastry came on a vintage floral plate. It was a really nice touch — thoughtful and creative, like every detail at Oldhand.
The croissant was flaky and rich and melted into sweet butter in my mouth. Washing it down with the strong, dark taste of Americano was my kind of heaven. Oldhand knows their coffee and pastry, that’s for sure.
The prices aren’t amazing; the croissant was about $3.25. But for a young, locally owned bakery, I’m definitely willing to pay. Hopefully they’ll come up with a student deal! When I brought my plate up to the counter, I asked about what was to come for Oldhand; apparently they’ll be making loaves of bread — notably sourdough — and light lunches will also be on the future menu.
Oldhand has made a place in my heart, right beside Duft and Co. and Afterthoughts. What I liked about Duft and Co. and Afterthoughts’ locations is that they’re on other ends of town. Now Oldhand is unfortunately competing with my love of Afterthoughts.
It’s a good problem to have. I like where Abbotsford’s coffee shop scene is going!
