Vesecky Bakery in Berwyn

Does anyone know if its still there? I've looked on line and it seems it is but I wanted to check.

toria wrote:Does anyone know if its still there? I've looked on line and it seems it is but I wanted to check.

Toria,

A quick phone call says Yes Vesecky's is open.

Friendly woman answered the phone, when I asked what is the speciality she answered "We're Bohemian, honey" Made me feel like going there for bakery from the positive energy in her voice alone.

What do you like at Vescky's?

Enjoy,
Gary

Vesecky's Bakery
6634 Cermak Rd
Berwyn, IL 60402
708-788-4144
Mon - Fri 6am to 6pm
Sat 6am - 5pm
Sunday Closed

Hadn't been for a couple of years, but I stopped in this past Saturday just before closing and was lucky to score a houska and the last of the plum kolaczky. Nothing's changed - the same friendly faces are behind the counter.

Thank you so much for calling Gary.

I don't think I have ever been to Vesecky's...maybe once as a little girl. However, its on my to do list. I would like
bohemian rye bread, kolaches, prune coffee cake, almond coffee cake, and houska.

I remember the coffee cakes from long ago at various bakeries in Chicago. Hard to find them now. They were prune or nut filled and rolled up around the filling. Then they were either frosting with white icing or with struesel.

Yum Yum.

I hear they make good lamb cakes at Vesecky's and have a hot dog in a salted dough too that they sell.

Well, I went over to Berwyn, the area formerly known as "Bohemian Wall Street". It has a decidedly hispanic flavor now. I was surprised at just how big the business district in Berwyn is, I imagined it to be a tiny little place but it goes on for blocks and blocks. I can just imagine how it was in its heydey. Vesecky's is still holding forth, a tiny little bakery. I was surprised at how small it was. But I was able to get in touch with my inner Czech. I got there around two pm and it was basically almost picked clean. I did snag a prune coffee cake, some poppy seed, prune and apricot horns and pockets, some Bohemian rye bread, and a hoska. A hoska is kind of like challah only with raisins and almonds on the top. The other thing I got was a half a pound cake with chocolate frosting. Hard to find and I think I last had this in gradeschool!!! My friend would always bring it and I'd be jealous because our pound cakes, marble or plain were unfrosted. They were always purchased at the grocery store that was attached to Wieboldt's in Oak Park. Talk about memories.

Anyway they had a nice looking lamb cake on display with light chocolate frosting and no coconut!!!! You need to order ahead though.

The friendly lady said you have to get there no later than ten or so for a good selection. I noticed they have some similar items and probably a lot more at at the Weber Bakery which is some miles south. I've never been there either so I don't have anything to compare.

I stopped in to Vesecky's last Saturday and enjoyed some cookies and some fantastic raisin bread (forgot the Czech name for it...it was a rich dough and had some lemon peel in it). By 11:00 the place was kind of cleared out. The lady said the best selection is on Fridays. They were taking orders for Thanksgiving bread, rolls, and stollen. I bet the stollen is good. I'm going to order one next time I'm headed to Berwyn. If you happen to be in the area, Vesecky's is definitely worth a visit, especially if you pine for the days of old-school bakeries.

I think what you had is houska. Its like a raisin bread braided. I haven't been back to Veseckys since my last post. No time to do there. I sure do wish they had bakeries like that around where I live.

It's a good thing I don't live closer to Vesecky's, or my behind would be bigger (ouch!). I was last there back in October and got kolacky (of course) and the almond coffee cake, plus a loaf of unsliced Bohemian rye, which I like for pastrami sandwiches. All were excellent. I hope they keep doing good business in what is a rapidly Latinizing neighborhood.

webdiva


I love you, but I love paprikash more. This is what it means to be Hungarian. -- anonymous Magyar

webdiva wrote:I love you, but I love paprikash more. This is what it means to be Hungarian. -- anonymous Magyar

That's as true as anything that's been said about the Hungarians. Really resonates with me as a half-Magyar.

Habibi wrote:

webdiva wrote:I love you, but I love paprikash more. This is what it means to be Hungarian. -- anonymous Magyar

That's as true as anything that's been said about the Hungarians. Really resonates with me as a half-Magyar.

Habibi:

What else can one expect of people who write stanza upon stanza of poetry to the miracle that is the melding of sauteed onions and bacon?



If I were you, I'd wash the mud off of that first. -- person looking over the shoulder of the first person to eat a crawdad

They have pumpkin donuts there the last couple of weeks (but not every day) very mild pumpkin flavor, with a cinnamon sugar coating and a nice crunch to it.