Shortbread was always an important part of the Christmas season when I was a child. It was something my Mom always made, using a recipe she had inherited from my Scottish great-grandmother and my siblings and I always loved it. I can still remember sneaking into the kitchen during the holidays and stealing some from the cookie jar when no-one was looking! Eventually, I became curious about how this delicious treat was made and my Mom began to teach me. Her recipe was very simple – just Butter, Flour and Brown Sugar - but I learned quickly to make absolutely sure the Butter was at just the right temperature and the oven as well, or the cookies wouldn't turn out. I began looking forward to helping her make them each season and she was glad for the help. My favourite part was always the clean-up when I got to eat-up the last bits of cookie dough.more...See more text
Coach House Shortbread Company dates back to the 1980s when founder Carl Stryg got homesick while living in New York City. Feeling nostalgic, he whipped up a batch of the shortbread cookies that had been part of his family’s Christmas tradition since he was a child. These were the same cookies he used to steal out of the cookie jar when no one was looking.
Once Carl’s landlord tasted the shortbread and thought they were store-bought quality, he told Carl he should get them into shops as he thought they’d surely sell. Carl, who was quickly able to get his goods into several stores in Manhattan, decided to continue the venture upon moving back to Toronto.
Over the years Carl grew Coach House Shortbread Company from baking out of his mom's small kitchen for one client to a bakery with products in select retail locations across the country. However, instead of getting into mass-production, he opted for a small-scale enterprise using seasonal and artisan ingredients and took part in exhibitions like the One of a Kind Show where he could interact with customers.
I purchased these cookies a couple of years ago at Vancouver's Circle Craft. Was disappointed they did not come this year. Been craving the savory ones, specifically! Love them!
