Beigne Habitude: A Gourmet Donut Shop in Little Italy

Opened since May 2024 on Boulevard Saint-Laurent in Little Italy, Beigne Habitude continues to gain followers. It’s no surprise, as behind this venture are two chefs with considerable experience in the kitchen. We should warn you right away: their donuts can be highly addictive.

Rachel Berriman has worked in the kitchens of the late Dinette Triple Crown and pizzeria Elena before becoming the head baker at Larrys and Lawrence. There, she worked with her partner, pastry chef Michael Lottner, who came from Patrice Pâtissier. When they left Larrys in 2022, they spent nearly two years perfecting their recipes, inspired by the donut shops they had discovered during their travels in the U.S. After several highly successful pop-ups—at Pumpui and Nouveau Palais, among others—the couple was finally ready to launch. “We did so much testing before opening; we had an excellent foundation,” they summarize.

What makes Michael and Rachel’s creations so special is not only the sometimes unusual choices and quality of the ingredients but especially the techniques: “I learned a lot at Patrice’s,” confesses Michael. “But I wanted to break away from traditional methods and apply French pastry techniques to making donuts.”

At Beigne Habitude, you will mainly find four varieties of donuts: the old-fashioned, with its denser and slightly crispy dough; the brioche (“Made with an insane amount of butter!”); the roussette (or cruller, “Like the one from Tim’s, but really better.”); and finally, the babka, a circular version of the famous Polish chocolate and cinnamon brioche. The glazes and toppings change with the seasons, but some classics remain on the menu, such as the roussette glazed with coconut and mango with crushed chili, which has quickly become a must-try (and for good reason!).

“We follow what’s in season and what people want to eat,” explain the two partners. Lime and tamarind, chai-glazed, hibiscus, matcha crumble, Concord grapes and bay leaf, cola and cherry ice cream, etc. “We have tons of flavors in our repertoire!” they assure.

For those interested: if you love Reese’s chocolates, you will adore the Mikey’s, a more upscale version of this chocolate and peanut butter treat. It’s to die for!

For all these reasons, Beigne Habitude earns a top spot on our list of places to find the best donuts in Montreal.

If you’re looking for a good place to satisfy your sweet tooth, stop by and see Rachel and Michael!

Happy discovering!

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Mikael Lebleu

Last update: October 10, 2024

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