north shore bakeries

Can you recommend a good bakery?

I know there is the new one (Gladstone). I will look at their cakes but am wondering where you all go for cake!

Also there is Three Tarts in Northfield. I've never gotten a cake there.

LAM026 wrote:Can you recommend a good bakery?

I know there is the new one (Gladstone). I will look at their cakes but am wondering where you all go for cake!

Also there is Three Tarts in Northfield. I've never gotten a cake there.

[This should probably be over in Shopping and Cooking, no?]

A fine Italian bakery up that way is Il Mulino in Highwood -- bread, pastries, cookies, surely good cakes too:
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=16176#16176

Antonius

Jory Downer of Bennison's Bakery in Evanston and his team won top place at the the prestigious 2005 Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie (translates to "world cup of baking") in Paris, the equivalent of the Olympics for bakers. Kinda pissed off the Italian anf French teams that an American team would win.

http://www.bennisonscakes.com/

Bennison's Bakeries
1000 Davis St.
Evanston 60201-3610
847-328-9434

I will second the Bennisons rec (they have a white chocolate mousse cake that is out of this world) and add Bini Bakery inside the H-Mart in Niles

Their baked goods are slightly less sweet and heavy on the cream, the way I like it. They have quite a bit of traditional european style cakes and tarts, and a comparatively small amount of asian baked goods. They are pretty pricey, though - the small cake (probably 6"?) is $25.

Bini Bakery, H-Mart
801 Civic Center Dr
Niles, IL 60714

Thanks for the info! I have noticed the bakery in Highwood but didn't know much about it. Also have driven by Bennisons!

I also like Tag's Bakery on Central Street in Evanston and while it's not technically on "the shore," I also like 3 Tarts Bakery in Northfield.

Tag's Bakery
2008 Central St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 328-1200

Three Tarts Bakery
301 South Happ Road
Northfield, IL 60093
(847) 446-5444

=R=

Go to Tags

Eat Florentine's

Be Happy.

(My father had a Hardware store that was next to Tags until about '65. I loved going to visit the store because it meant a trip into Tags)

Sugar Cookies are very, very good too.


A lot of their goods are excellent, plus they conjur up fond memories for me.

Bennison's makes a wicked sourdough loaf.

basis wrote:Bennison's makes a wicked sourdough loaf.

And a completely evil sour cream donut.

Best,
Michael

Like nr706, I am a fan of Bennison's breads. Their pain aux raisins, croissants, and pain au chocolat are as good as those in Paris, IMHO. Bennison's tends to run out of their ciabatta at the Evanston Farmers Market (Saturdays). And they completely sold out by 10:30 the first day of Green City Market this year.

For muffins and scones, Kim's Kitchen on Noyes Street East of D&D Market in Evanston is the place to go. The lemon-ginger muffins are one of my favorite things on Earth. Unfortunately, I am not alone in this. They often sell out of these, but they always have other good things. They tend to have cupcakes and slices of cake, but for a whole cake, order ahead.

Three Tarts makes an outstanding financier - a buttery almond cake. I have had their very pretty cupcakes and homey cocoanut cake, which are good. Another thing that Three Tarts does very well is a cinnamon-streusel bread that makes great toast.

Although they do not have a separate bakery anymore, the baked goods at Blind Faith Cafe in Evanston are quite good. The blueberry muffins are very light and fresh, and if you have friends who prefer vegan alternatives, this may be the only place on the North Shore to get them. For a party I once ordered their chocolate cheesecake, which, though delicious, could have fed 30. I also once ordered a Wedding Coffee Cake for a breakfast reception following a sunrise service. It was a carrrot-nutbread frosted with cream cheese. The couple was delighted and I thought it was damn good and not too sweet.

Finally, although they do not offer cakes and pastries, Heavenly Hearth Bread in East Wilmette has a wide assortment of crusty, delicious hand-make loaves, including a killer cranberry-pecan loaf, excellent baguettes, and challah on friday, as well as a honey white loaf that reminds me of the Toasting White bread that you used to find under the Pepperidge Farm brand years ago. It's a bread that has just a bit more body than most and stands up to toasting very very well.

Kim's Kitchen
814 Noyes Street
Evanston
(847) 475-5467

Blind Faith Cafe
525 Dempster Ave.
Evanston, IL
(847)328-6875

Heavenly Hearth Breads
1101 Central Ave.
Wilmette
867 853-0020

Gerhard'son Western Avenue in Lake Forest has plenty of interesting cakes and tortes. I second Antonius on il Mulino. Good Italian bread, very good pastries, and nice choices of prepared foods. Occasionally on Friday or Saturday Maria will make panella sandwiches on semolina bread. Very nice.

Gerhard's Elegant European Desserts
720 North Western Avenue
Lake Forest, IL 60045
847 234-0023

Choey wrote:Occasionally on Friday or Saturday Maria will make panella sandwiches on semolina bread. Very nice.

You raise the chances by calling in advance to request it. Especially if it is not Friday or Saturday.

Regards,