Gastown just got a little sweeter, thanks to the newly-opened Cadeaux Bakery.

This delicious and roomy patisserie is brought to us by two talented pastry chefs who previously delighted us with their baked goods at Chambar. Since ‘cadeau’ means gift in French, I decided to treat myself with some self-gifting. I had the most decadent buttery croissant ($2.75), a melt-in-your-mouth apple custard danish ($3.35), and two tiny bite-sized truffles, a sweet and savoury salted caramel and a refreshing lemon coconut ($1.50 each). I could have kept going, but I’m exercising a little thing called self-control. —Anya Georgijevic

Cadeaux Bakery, 172 Powell St., Vancouver, 604-608-8889, www.cadeauxbakery.com

East Village Bakery is not helping our New Year’s resolutions, but it’s sure hitting the spot.

This delightful postage stamp-sized bakery serves up delicious artisan fare, from savoury goods like fresh breads, focaccias and croissants, to their sweet signature items such as the blueberry crostata and the oh-so-addictive palmiers.

Tea party, anyone? —AG

East Village Bakery, 2166 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, 604-568-5600, www.eastvillagebakery.com

We all know that eating breakfast is good for us. But now it can it be good for others, too.

The new Karmic Orbs at Mix the Bakery are little fundraising power balls of raw food goodness (coconut, flax, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, cranberries and Balinese spices) that support an Indonesian orphanage with projects such as buying beds for the children who sleep on the floor.

Now that will have you sleeping better, too.

Karmic Orbs are $1.50 at Mix the Bakery, 4430 W. 10th Ave., Vancouver, 604-221-4145.
Read more about the charity at www.thewinsproject.org

We headed to the new location of Sciue Italian bakery in Yaletown, where the cobblestone courtyard seating resembles a piazza and the brown and orange ’70s rec room décor has you thinking Brady Bunch revival.

But the fare is far from retro: Order a house-made Italian doughnut (soft and not too sweet) to share, then move on to fresh, sunny brunches served on Italian buns, like the proscuitto cotto benny (with melon and crispy Yukon gold potato wedges, $10.95) or the scrambled eggs and Italian sausage on bruscetta ($8.95).

Grab a banquette and catch a cooking show on Italian satellite TV, listen to the wake-me-up Italian soundtrack, or better yet, catch up on the vagaries of everyone’s Friday night. This is a story, about a lovely lady….

Sciue Yaletown, 126 Davie St, 604-689-7263, www.sciue.ca

Now that we’re over Atkins and eating bread like the sensible people that we are, Vancouver’s famous artisan Terra Breads Bakery and Café is back–bigger and better and bread-ier than ever.

At their new flagship bakeryand café just opened above False Creek, lime green chairs, brightorange walls, and a large and sunny patio make for a great lunch breakaway from the fray.

To try: roasted lamb, pear and fresh mint sandwich on organic raisin bread ($5.95) with the house lemonade ($2).

To buy: black olive fougasse bread ($4.25) for extra-tasty goats’cheese toast points at tonight’s appie hour.

Terra Breads Bakery and Café, 53 W. Fifth Ave., 604-873-8111.

For more info and other locations, see www.terrabreads.com