“One hundred per cent uncompromised. Made from scratch. By hand. With the best real ingredients,” says the pastel pink sign on the door of Waupoos Tarts in Prince Edward County, Ont. Inside the shop, a quaint shed located just off County Road 8, are two small fridges that house the tarts, a menu displaying the five varieties available (plain, walnut raisin, raisin, pecan, and lemon), and a spot for customers to pay by the honour system. It’s simple and authentic, and that’s just the way owner and tart-maker Joel Clark likes it.
With every batch, Joel starts with fresh ingredients: “Real butter, freshly cracked eggs, real maple syrup and French brandy for our pecan tarts, and homemade whipped cream for our lemon tart topping.” The pastry consists only of hot water, lard, salt, and flour, and Joel hand makes each tart, rolling the dough and painstakingly pressing it into each cup. He knows there’s machinery that could do it for him, reducing time and labour, and he’s tried it: “The tart came out looking like every other tart you buy at the store,” says Joel. “It just wasn’t right.”
That means 12-hour days making tarts during his busy summer season, sometimes more to keep up with demand (he hates the idea of customers showing up to an empty fridge). But the result is a product Joel is incredibly proud of. And, more importantly, one that folks genuinely enjoy. “People have called my tarts life-changing,
and that makes it all worth it.”
This lakeside community organized an annual float parade to bring cottagers together
On Google, the reviews are more than flattering. “World’s best,” writes one customer. “Joel is a baking wizard,” writes another. So how exactly do the tarts taste? “The crust is flaky and buttery and melts in your mouth,” says Joel. “The filling is sweet with a smooth, not-too-runny, not-too-dense texture, and the size is almost double that of a traditional supermarket butter tart.” Sounds good to us!
Related Story The ultimate (raisins optional) butter tart recipe
Related Story The surprisingly controversial story of the butter tart
Related Story Yum! Chapman’s ice cream wins delicious world title