My morning started out in its regular fashion with one exception: a cupcake craving. I have been determined to try cupcakes from Bakery Gingham because friends posted amazing comments on Twitter about the bakery. The thoughts of moist flavorful little cakes covered in butter cream icing were sending me over the edge. My initial thought was I NEED an occasion to come about so I don’t feel guilty shoving gourmet cupcakes into the mouths of my babes and my big pie…cupcake hole. That occasion came right on time: my husband’s birthday.
Not only did I need to get a sweet confection for hubby’s birthday, but also the kids and I clearly needed to get out of the house. We had been cooped up with our unwanted friend Jack Frost and the traveling flu for far too long. We needed to breath some fresh air, even if it was only 22 degree air; and, I decided a great, simple activity would be to take the kids to the bakery. We started our simple little excursion by taking a drive around our neighborhood. We talked about the animals that are having babies, the colors of the houses, and where we thought fairies lived. I ended our adolescent conversation with “Let’s Go Get CUPCAKES!” My daughter yelled “Yay!” like she just found her favorite toy that had been missing for ages.
We headed down to the bakery. I wanted to make the trip special because when I was a kid visits to certain bakeries with my Grandmother were memorable trips for me. I loved picking out Long Johns or a chocolate chip cookie and savoring each little bite. I want my kids to have connections like that with food – special, memorable, delicious. Hopefully Bakery Gingham will earn a unique memory. Bakery Gingham is located on Thurman Avenue in the heart of German Village. I parked the car a few blocks away so we could enjoy a nice brisk walk to the bakery – walking into a warm bakery with its tantalizing smells would seem sweeter after a shivery stroll. And, boy, was it!
One word upon entry: pink! My daughter’s favorite color du jour is pink and she was excruciatingly happy when she walked in. She ran to the counter that displayed all the beautiful little cupcakes, then to the counter full of cookies, then to the table that showed off some of the other bakery items they sold. It was nice to walk into a place that made us feel so happy and warm – it was almost like walking into a spring day. And, the cupcakes were fantastic… rich, creamy, moist cake, beautifully iced, and just the right size.
Plan a visit to Bakery Gingham…because you really have to go:
- Check out the flavors of the day so you can go when your favorite is being made.
- Parking is off-street, but there is plenty of it. The bakery is nestled between Easy Street Cafe and the Coffee House (thank you: Breakfast with Nick)
- Go early, the owner informed me she sells out. You can also call ahead and she’ll pull the flavors you want and put them in a cute pink box with a green gingham ribbon.
- She does not have seating.
- When the weather warms up: get lunch at Brown Bag and eat it in Schiller Park, finish off with a stroll to the bakery and take cupcakes home for a mid-afternoon or after dinner treat.
- If you Facebook join the Bakery Gingham group.
