Erina Bakery owners Melihate (l) and Milahim

I’ve driven past Erina Bakery countless times without noticing its presence, next to a bottle depot on busy 37 Street in southwest Calgary. I finally pushed open its colourful doors and discovered a world of Balkan baking I didn’t know existed.

How about you? Have you heard of pitalka, Nordic rye or Albanian breads? Didn’t think so. Or burek, a cigar-shaped phyllo pastry filled with your choice of potato, cheese, meat or spinach. It makes a delightful appetizer, with or without a dip.

Burek: a stuffed phyllo pastry

The prices are low, such as $2 for a chewy little pitalka loaf. Slather on a red pepper spread called avjar and you might be transported to Kosovo.

The quality and distinctness of Erina’s baked goods is more than matched by the charming couple, Milahim and Melihate, who opened the bakery some four years ago. Meeting lovely owners like these is the reason I do this blog.

The full Balkan bakery experience

Okay, on with the quiz. Kifle? Gjervrek? Like me, you’ll have to visit to find out.

Erina Bakery
Unit 28, 2835 37 Street SW, Calgary
Daily 9 am-7 pm, except 5 pm closing Sundays
403-686-2900