While we’ve had some incredible meals in Calgary, it’s not often a food story brings you to tears. But we found ourselves wiping our eyes when speaking with Buddy’s Bakery founder Esmail Soleymani. Soleymani’s father was a baker by trade and had one wish in life: that one of his three sons take up the family trade. When all three went on to successful careers in other fields, he’d all but lost hope. But Esmail found himself nostalgic for the food of his native Iran and wanted to give his aging father his wish. Thus was born Buddy’s Bakery, which specializes in fooman cookies or koloocheh. These beautiful, sweet treats fold an aromatic cinnamon, walnut and sugar filling into a soft, crumbly cookie. These pockets pack a ton of flavour that whisks you away on a journey to the Middle East. Soleymani’s father was delighted and offered daily advice and guidance to the venture until his passing just two months after Buddy’s opening.

Find the fooman cookies at the Caspian Market in Parkdale, online or now in Village Ice Cream’s Buddy’s Fooman Cookie ice cream online or at one of their four locations.

Buddy’s Bakery | 61, 3131 27th St. N.E. | 403.452.5264 | buddysbakery.ca

Village Ice Cream | villageicecream.com