Are you the sort of sweets lover who welcomes butter but abhors trans fats? If so, you'll be delighted by this new Williamsburg bakery. Open just 3 weeks, Cheeks Bakery sells delicious goods which are made exclusively with organic eggs and rBst-free milk. Owner Melanie explains, "If I always eat organic eggs myself, why shouldn't I also use them in products for my customers? It's the right thing to do." Melanie's passion for high quality ingredients is showcased in chocolate-banana bundt cakes, blackberry-buttermilk muffins, coconut cake with lime syrup, vanilla bean cheesecake, and for those who prefer the savory to the sweet, herb quiche!
Cheeks Bakery: 378 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, 718-599-3583.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
14 comments:
I tried going to Cheeks Bakery in Williamsburg this morning. Although the sign claims that it opens at 8, by 8:20, it was still not open. When I knocked on the window to inquire, the person inside gave me the "just one minute" gesture, which turned out to be misleading as she did not open the store a minute later. I ended up leaving without ever going in. How terrible when businesses don't open on time! It really shows a lack of regard for the customers, and takes business for granted.
I checked out Cheeks last Sunday and despite my stomach-already-full-o-brunch, it was heaven! had a slice of yummy chocolate pecan pie for the walk home...and I'm ordering a cake for a birthday party this week.
I went to Cheeks today and a woman who told me she was the baker was so rude and hostile to me. I will never go there again. I asked her if she had any flourless cake and she pointed to some cheesecake. I noticed it had a crust and said, "Oh, it has a crust," in a totally neutral way at which she LOST IT and snarled, "That crust is made from almonds! I told you there is no flour! I'm the baker and I should know." I idiotically still tried to be nice and bought a piece and said, "Perhaps you should put on your website that you offer flourless baked goods. That could bring in a lot of business," and she said, "No! No way! That's not what I am about!" and just glared at me. I left, vowing never to return. What a nasty person that owner/baker is. Oh, and the cake SUCKED.
I won a box of cheeks cupcakes in a raffle and they were heavenly. I've always found Mark and Melanie incredibly friendly, I'm sad to hear others have had bad run ins.
i have made cheeks my stop on the way home from work. i stop in for the vanilla cupcakes (i am addicted to cupcakes) and i do feel a little guilty for not trying anything new, but i LOVE those cupcakes. anyway- melanie may have a sarcastic quality, but she doesn't strike me as mean or rude. perhaps you misinterpreted the encounter? give it another try-those cupcakes alone are worth it.
The woman, if Melanie is her name, IS rude. However, I did finally go in the other day again and a gentleman was there instead. He was very polite and my husband and I enjoyed what we bought. Melanie should probably just bake the goods and then leave because customer service isn't really her strong point.
Everything I've had at cheeks has been fantastic. I have had almond cake (perfect) and a pumkin zuccato cake (not too sweet, great depth of flavor), espresso sea salt cookies (UNBELIEVEABLE! They melt and make your mouth water at the same time).
I have talked to the woman at cheeks and have learned that she is the owner, baker and sole employee of cheeks so she probably has a bad day once in a while, like anyone.
This post came up when I googled Cheeks Bakery, so even though I'm very late I just had to add my two cents: I've been to Cheeks four times and everything I've bought has been delicious, if a wee bit expensive. I would go MUCH more often if the baker/owner had not been rude to me each time I went. The great food draws me back in, but I never go if I'm not feeling up to being snapped at and condescended to. I don't know why she comes across the way she does, but her manner is certainly abrasive -- And I am nothing but complementary every time I go in, so I don't know what I could have done to provoke it.
i adore the goods at Cheeks, and kind of agree that the baker, Melanie, is her own --and others--worst enemy when it comes to customer service. it's as if all her natural sweetness is poured into her lovely products (i keep going back for more) and there isn't enough left over for human interactions. Hopefully, one of these days she'll learn to stay in the back.
If I had to open a bakery in high rent environment, afford to buy the highest quality organic products for baking, then open the store myself everyday, bake all of the products, and front-end the store myself until my husband got off his day job and came immediately to work evenings... I would hope that my customers realize the immense demand on time and energy and buy my products for their quality. I've never had a bad product at Cheeks and that is saying a lot for a small bakery that crafts small batch goods. When you think of a cupcake costing $2.50 or even $3.50 - their is a big difference between going to a bakery like Magnolia where they produce literally hundreds of units a day versus Cheeks who crafts few dozen a day. It would have to cost that much just to be able to bake them. Another interesting quality about Cheeks and small retail establishment is that it is often as unique as the owner. I've have been in the neighborhood a short while, since 1993. I've seen a lot of turnover, development, exodus, influx, transient business, you name it... one thing I realize is that if a company doesn't establish a business plan that allows for a high burn rate for the first 3 years then that company has a smaller chance of survival. When I pay $25 or $45 for a birthday cake (that feeds at least 15) at Cheeks then I feel comfortable knowing that it means that I am investing in the neighborhood and a place that I like that will hopefully grow legs and stay around for a while. I rue the day that the L Cafe closed after so long being the only place for bagels - but that is a different rant. Back "in the day," in my day that is, all of the establishments in Williamsburg were run by individuals or families. It was normal to be treated indifferently or with disdain, or disrespect, etc... until you became a part of the neighborhood and they recognized that. The folks at Cheeks are in some way no different. I like the fact that there is a single, uncomplicated tone at Cheeks, everything there is exactly as it is... high quality, consistent taste and a friendly smile - once you become a regular. I recommend the scones (esp with pear and cheddar), the red velvet, almond and carrot cakes, any of the cookies, the granola and hot chocolate - and going often.
I just can't believe how rude and unfriendly the owner was to me...desserts should make people happy - especially when you claim to be the baker - you bake to make others happy, not to take it away from them. there was no smile, no thank you when I paid for the cake. I felt like throwing it back in her face!!! She obviously has one of her spatulas up her as*
I just discovered Cheeks Bakery and her cakes & cupcakes are to die for!!! I bought a birthday cake the other day and everyone asked where it came for, because it was moist, fresh, and divine. It tastes home-made, not sugary, but even better.
I have noticed that the owner/baker Melanie is a little off-putting, but since her baking prowess will continue to draw me back to her shop, I've just decided to call her the "Bakery Nazi". Just as the "Soup Nazi" had his rules and attitude, his soup still drew people back... And if you think of it this way, it becomes a rite of passage to get past so that you can eat your yummy yummy cupcakes.
The owner has a chip on her shoulder that seems to stem from her existence having two identities. The first is to uphold her bitterly high standard of propriety. The second is to shun the stupidly inquisitive public from their lack of faith in her honor (and general unawareness that they really are just goodie- mongering breeders)
She does not seem to have a problem presenting herself as she is, which is not who you generally run into in this world of cupcake dealers as quintessential good mothers. To me this makers her mildly fascinating, because she is fighting the unstated "requirement" that as a cookie, cake, and scone dealer in america, you are also expected to maintain this maternal identity, which amounts to glowing with acceptance at all times.
This is the main reason why we love cookies and cupcakes - because we have been exposed to this identity, and almost can't control our desire to be taken care of and given a squeeze on our cheek for engaging in this act of selfless giving and taking of bread.
Who am I to think she sucks at the front counter?
The owner has a chip on her shoulder that seems to stem from her existence having two identities. The first is to uphold her bitterly high standard of propriety. The second is to shun the stupidly inquisitive public from their lack of faith in her honor (and general unawareness that they really are goodie-mongering breeders)
She does not seem to have a problem presenting herself as she is, which is not who you generally run into in this world of cupcake dealers as quintessential good mothers. To me this makes her mildly fascinating, because she is fighting the unstated "requirement" that as a cookie, cake, and scone dealer in america, you are also expected to maintain this maternal identity, which amounts to glowing with acceptance at all times.
This is the main reason why we love cookies and cupcakes - because we have been exposed to this identity, and almost can't control our desire to be taken care of and given a squeeze on our cheek for engaging in this act of selfless giving and taking of bread.
Who am I to think she sucks at the front counter?
Post a Comment