Fledgling Brazilian bakery in London branching out to dining-in

A new Brazilian bakery in London is marking its first anniversary after an “arduous” startup, with plans to add a dining area to its now takeout-only shop.

Churis Bread is an artisanal bakery that goes against the grain by adding a touch of its owners’ South American homeland to its Canadian menu.

Owner Emerson Silva said it’s been tough work starting a business as an immigrant, but he’s happy with the early success of the bakery at 1040 Adelaide St. N.

“We already have our regulars and good reviews, so we are happy people understand our mission,” Silva, interviewed in his native Portuguese, said Tuesday.

The fresh sourdough bread — which takes a day to make — follows Silva’s family recipe and is the bakery’s best seller. Everything at Churis is made from scratch, including the popular pão de queijo, or Brazilian cheese bread.

Though Silva said the business is starting to show potential, it’s been a slow process.

“We know people are tightening their belts due to inflation, and our product is more expensive than at the grocery store, but people understand it’s an artisanal bakery,” he said.

Next up for the bakery, which now only does takeout, is a dining area so customers can enjoy their specialties and an upcoming breakfast menu.

“It’s a homemade and healthier way to make bread, like my grandparents used to,” Silva said. “We don’t use any food additives or preservatives.”

The bakery’s goods, especially its cheese bread, caught the attention of the local Portuguese community, said Silva, who boasts it’s London’s best and most authentic.

Silva said customers’ opinions helped them get to the perfect recipe, which, except for the cassava flour, uses Canadian ingredients to bake the Brazilian cheese bread.

Five years ago, Silva moved from Brazil to Canada with his family, and since then, they’ve woken up to the smell of fresh bread every morning. Silva’s wife, Kathy, and their son Arthur, also a baker, spend most of the day at the bakery making products.

Kathy Silva said she’s proud of how their business has grown.

“I think the bakery is a good meeting spot for the community, including a lot of Brazilians, but it also attracts the Jewish community.

“We love what we do as if we were baking for our family. We have kept the same goals since the beginning. We follow it today and always will,” she said.

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