478. Sheila’s Bakery – August 30, 2020 – Detroit, MI

My jaunt to Sheila’s Bakery in late August was exciting on so many levels. It was my both my first visit to Detroit since an illness I experienced for six weeks of the summer AND my first new-place visit in the city since the pandemic landed in Michigan.

My last new-place Detroit visit was almost six months prior: to E&L Supermercado (home of the phenomenal Salsa a la Diabla). I’d been to Detroit once since then, attending a June gathering on Belle Isle (my first trip to the island in 15 years!). But this was my first solo, drive-myself, new-place Detroit jaunt in nearly half.a.year.

I was both excited and nervous to navigate to the Mexican bakery in Southwest Detroit. Driving is not my favorite pastime, and Detroit roads – as those of you who live locally know – aren’t always the most intuitive (they get major marks for creativity!). But I made it to Sheila’s, one mile at a time, unscathed. The trip was well worth the auto-induced nerves.

I discovered that many of Sheila’s breads, cookies, cakes, and other baked goodies are displayed in serve-yourself cases. You select the confections you want with tongs, placing them on a tray you bring up to the cashier, who packages them and takes your payment.

I knew I’d not be leaving Sheila’s without tres leches cake.

Ah, tres leches, that gorgeous concoction of sweet, pillowy goodness soaked in three iterations of dairy! I was so excited to choose two slices of Sheila’s take on that beauty: one for me, and one for my mother, who I was visiting that same day (lucky her!).

That tres leches cake tasted as wonderful as anticipated! As shown in the above photo, it was a slab of sweet-milk-soaked heaven, complete with luscious frosting bedecked with chopped nuts and a literal cherry on top. I savored its richness over two sittings.

The other delight purchased from Sheila’s was its version of a Hostess cupcake. A surprise discovery: its center contained both the iconic white cream AND raspberry filling. I savored those decadent fillings along with the rich chocolate cake and frosting that comprised the two nuggets of happiness I’d brought home with me.

Now more than ever, our world needs the feel-good vibes induced by baked goods – and to support locally-owned businesses. A visit to Sheila’s Bakery satisfies both of those requirements!

Best wishes to you all at this intense time in the world. Here’s to staying safe, sane, and as joyful as possible.

2142 Springwells St.

Detroit, MI 48209

(With an additional location in Pontiac)

470. Mexicantown Bakery – March 8, 2020 – Detroit, MI

Mexicantown Bakery’s churro, chocolate croissant, and coffee tres leches cake

Baked goods most definitely make my heart – and my stomach – smile, so recounting this visit to Mexicantown Bakery is a real treat.

The Southwest Detroit-based bakery offers a plethora of fresh-made goodies: loaves of bread, buns, cake, cookies, cupcakes, churros, conchas (Mexican sweet bread), flan, and the like. A long row of display cases line a section of its interior near its front door. Patrons are able to select items displayed in those cases themselves using tongs or parchment paper and to place them on plastic trays, which they can then proceed with to the cashier counter.

Additional displays of fresh-baked treats abound, including in cases built into the cashier counter and in a refrigerated case toward the back of the store that holds what I consider to be Mexicantown Bakery’s pièce de résistance: its tres leches cake.

Tres leches in its classic form is, to me, one of the finest baked goods ever – and Mexicantown Bakery has upped the ante by offering it in additional flavor varieties, including chocolate, caramel, and coffee. I HAD to try that coffee one, so I grabbed one of the plastic containers offering up a large piece of it (what I’d consider as two slices in one).

I also picked these items out of the choose-it-yourself display cases: a chocolate croissant; a caramel-stuffed churro; a slice of chocolate cake swirled with strawberry filling; and a cupcake rendered to look like a giant version of the classic cream-filled Hostess cupcake, complete with the white icing squiggle on top.

Yep, I went a little crazy, procuring five desserts all for myself: but it’s hard not to go crazy at a place showcasing such delectable delights as Mexicantown Bakery!

All of those desserts were DELICIOUS. I got a real kick out of eating the mega Hostess-cupcake clone and savoring its rich cream center, as I savored the strawberry filling in the slice of chocolate cake. The croissant was especially tasty heated up in the microwave, its center oozing melted chocolate, while the churro was a cinnamon-infused indulgence.

But that tres leches cake – oh, that tres leches cake! It’s taking the cake (pun intended, naturally) as the best thing I’ve eaten thus far this year. WOW, was it phenomenal: so rich and spongy and sumptuous, soaked in sweet, milky goodness, with a wonderful coffee flavor and creamy decadence that was immensely satisfying. I ate it over several sittings, relishing every bite and daydreaming about buying more of it. With any luck, a revisit to Mexicantown Bakery will be sooner rather than later.

As of the writing of this post, it appears that Mexicantown Bakery is open despite the coronavirus crisis; its Facebook page mentions modified hours, but I don’t see a post about it closing (perhaps it’s considered a carryout place and allowed to stay active). Regardless of whether it’s in operation now or not, I’m sure its business has been affected during this challenging time. Whenever this awful situation has resolved and we can be out and about again as we were before, please consider patronizing this wonderful establishment. Independently-owned Detroit businesses such as Mexicantown Bakery will need our patronage more than ever.

4300 W. Vernor Hwy.

Detroit, MI 48209

www.mexicantownbakery.com

467. Knapp’s Donuts – February 21, 2020 – Troy, MI

As of the writing of this post, Knapp’s Donuts is one of the many Metro-Detroit-area businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic; its doors are currently closed. With any luck, both its Rochester and Troy-based locations – the latter of which I recently visited – will reopen soon, and we can all enjoy its delightful donuts again.

After years of hearing my mom rave about Knapp’s Donuts and wanting to try them myself, I finally made that happen when I stopped there on a Friday morning in February. I was on my way to my last day at a job that I’d worked at for 4.5 years, and I thought it would be nice to bring my team (and myself) some donuts.

I picked out eight donuts in a variety of flavors, including Boston crème, chocolate glazed, cinnamon-sugar, and sour cream.

I knew I had to try the sour cream, as that varietal has become a personal favorite in recent years. It was SO delicious: perfectly moist on the inside and crispy-fried on the outside, with a honey-sweet glaze. I could see from eating that sour cream donut what all the hype around Knapp’s was about!

I also got to try one of its chocolate glazed donuts, which was quite tasty, too; my coworkers who opted in on the baked goodies enjoyed them, as well.

Once Knapp’s is open again, I have a feeling its patrons are going to be rejoicing by grabbing its delectable donuts by the dozens! May that time come quickly.

6057 Rochester Rd.

Troy, MI 48085

(with an additional location in Rochester)

464. Good Cakes and Bakes – February 4, 2020 – Detroit, MI

I love a good baked good! I can resist candy, but put a spongy little nugget of frosted cake in front of me, and I have a much harder time resisting. This is especially true of spongy little nuggets of frosted cake that come from stellar establishments such as Good Cakes and Bakes.

The bakery based in the Avenue of Fashion neighborhood of Detroit offers enticing house-made treats; cakes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, muffins, sweet breads, cinnamon rolls, and scones are offerings, as are homemade soups and coffee. Vegan options are also available.

According to its website, Good Cakes and Bakes uses organic and/or locally-sourced ingredients for its wares whenever possible, which I love! Organic ingredients = one more justification I can use to cram a baked good into my mouth. 🙂

Walking into the storefront of Good Cakes and Bakes, I was greeted not only by the gleaming displays of goodies but the vibrancy of its interior. Whimsical dessert-centric murals grace the walls, and the whole place is teeming with color and welcoming vibes. Tables provide ample seating for guests to sit and enjoy the tasty treats they’ve purchased.

The woman working the counter was friendly – and a good salesperson. She convinced me to purchase four cupcakes based off of the number of slots in the cardboard box she was using to pack my order (I was only going to order three, but . . . twist my arm!).

Good Cakes and Bakes offers cupcakes in varieties as varied as Banana Pudding and Frutti Pebbles. Being the chocolate lover that I am, I zeroed in on the ones that featured that ingredient, opting for the Chocolate, Chocolate Salted Caramel, German Chocolate, and Red Velvet varieties.

I sat and enjoyed the Red Velvet cupcake right then and there, savoring its rich cream-cheese frosting. The other three, the Chocolate, Chocolate Salted Caramel, and German Chocolate, were enjoyed later at home. And WOW, did those three especially blow me away! They were total beacons of deliciousness with their moist, tender-crumbed cake and ample amounts of sumptuous frosting.

The German Chocolate was so decadent with its delightfully sticky, coconut-laced frosting, while the Chocolate Salted Caramel surprised me with the vibrancy of its flavor, from the melding of the savory sea salt and sweet caramel flavors with the rich vanilla frosting and moist, decadent chocolate cake to the chewy caramel square that bedecked it. And the Chocolate was a supreme example in less being more with its harmonious melding of moist cake and luxurious frosting festooned with sprinkles and a chocolate drizzle.

As if those delectable cupcakes weren’t incentive enough to return to Good Cakes and Bakes: I was also signed up for the bakery’s rewards program during my visit. This program allows customers to accrue points every time they make purchases at Good Cakes and Bakes and earn redeemable rewards. MORE motivation to enjoy baked goods? I’LL TAKE IT – thanks, Good Cakes and Bakes!

19363 Livernois Ave.

Detroit, MI 48221

(Closed Sundays and Mondays)

www.goodcakesandbakes.com

446. Ochre Bakery – November 10, 2019 – Detroit, MI

Here’s Ochre Bakery, combining two of my favorite things: coffee houses and baked goods! I had a wonderful time there during my visit a month ago.

Ochre Bakery bills itself as a bakery and café, serving up tea, coffee, and espresso drinks; fresh-baked breads, croissants, cakes, and pastries; and smoothies, sandwiches, salads, breakfast foods, and other goodies.

The café is in a nondescript area of the Woodbridge neighborhood of Detroit, on Grand River Avenue. On Yelp, I’d read reviews recommending using a cluster of nearby shipping containers to help identify its location, which did aid me in spotting its white-brick façade dappled with navy-blue dots and the cute courtyard area fronting it.

Inside, I learned that half of the tables at Ochre Bakery are reserved for patrons who desire the restaurant experience – to be waited on by servers – while the other half are available for those who’d like to order from the counter and seat themselves. Coming from a meal at Coop Caribbean Fusion via Detroit Shipping Company, I opted for the less formal experience of ordering at the counter.

I’d been so full from that meal at Detroit Shipping Company that I’d skipped dessert there. Here I was a scant half hour later, spying Ochre Bakery’s house-made chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting and suddenly sensing an appetite inside me (I always have room for chocolate cake). I ordered a slice of it and a cappuccino, which were delivered to my table when they were ready.

The chocolate cake tasted as delicious as it looked; it was pure decadence! I savored its layers of rich, moist cake and creamy, sugary frosting. It paired well with the flavorful cappuccino.

I also savored Ochre Bakery’s excellent vibes. Every staff member I encountered there was lovely, and the café’s interior emanated cheerful tranquility with its earth tones and potted plants, its counter of veined white marble and blond wood and tile painted with designs done in blue and its namesake color. I loved sitting inside there, reading and writing and sipping and savoring and soaking it all in. Ochre Bakery is the kind of place I yearn to return to.

4884 Grand River Ave., Ste. 1B

Detroit, MI 48208

http://www.ochrebakery.com

440. On the Rise Bakery Café – October 19, 2019 – Detroit, MI

I love win-win scenarios (who doesn’t love double the wins?). And visiting On the Rise Bakery Café in Detroit was a definite win-win: I got to support a good cause and tote home a loaf of gloriously tasty sourdough bread, to boot.

On the Rise Bakery Café is an entity of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, a Detroit-based nonprofit that provides community support via such initiatives as its substance abuse support group, youth enrichment program, and eponymous soup kitchen.

On the Rise, specifically, lends that community support by employing men and women who have recently completed a drug treatment program or been incarcerated. Proceeds from bakery sales support its employees and services offered by the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.

As the bakery’s mission is described on the Capuchin Soup Kitchen website: “With each purchase of our baked goods, you are helping make possible the provision of supportive housing, training, counseling services, educational opportunities, and self help programs. On the Rise Bakery Café is a program where each man is responsible to reach back and support the newest member.”

I love the community support and mentoring aspects of that mission! On the Rise is helping people who have recently been through challenging circumstances better their lives – so that they, in turn, can help others to grow stronger. What an empowering model.

Entering On the Rise’s tidy storefront on the Saturday afternoon of my visit, I was greeted by several employees. The bakery’s wares were currently limited, they informed me, because baking doesn’t occur on Saturdays and because Saturday mornings are a popular time for purchases. But, as luck would have it, one quantity of exactly what I was looking for was still available: a loaf of sourdough bread. It was affordably priced at $4.

I’ve been enjoying that sourdough bread (I froze what I didn’t eat initially) as toast; its delectably chewy texture has made it an ideal accompaniment to both mashed avocado and spinach artichoke dip. Mmmm – just thinking about that sourdough toast makes me want to whip up some right now – perhaps as the bookends to a grilled cheese sandwich?

Besides offering various baked goods such as breads, rolls, cookies, coffee cakes, cheesecakes, pies, turnovers, and muffins, On the Rise also sells house-made soups and sandwiches, chili, ice cream, and beverages such as pop, coffee, and juice (hence the café aspect of its name). Seating inside the storefront allows patrons to sit and enjoy meals.

On the Rise Bakery Café is doing the good work, providing delectable wares plus a difference-making mission – and that is a definite win times two!

8900 Gratiot Ave.

Detroit, MI 48213

(Closed Sundays and Mondays)

www.cskdetroit.org/bakery

430. Le Detroit Macaron – September 1, 2019 – Hamtramck, MI

Le Detroit Macaron is a virtuoso creator of its namesake French confection! Its brightly-hued, vibrantly-flavored macarons are downright delicious.

My visit to the Hamtramck-based bakery went down on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. I was seeing a friend on Labor Day and wanted to bring her a very cool (and also very belated) birthday present. Pondering things she loves, macarons popped into my head, and I knew a long-anticipated visit to Le Detroit Macaron was in order. All the bakery does is those meringue-esque, melt-in-your-mouth cookies with their rich layer of ganache sandwiched in between.

Arriving at the adorable shop with its white-and-black-striped awning and window boxes overflowing with flowers, I stepped inside and was greeted by a cornucopia of fresh-baked macarons displayed in glass cases. There were loads of varieties – macarons in every shade of the rainbow!

After speaking with the woman working the counter and pondering the options, I decided on six macarons for my friend and four for myself (because you know I couldn’t leave Le Detroit Macaron without grabbing some of its goodies for myself!).

For moi, I ordered macarons in these four flavor varieties: Hazelnut, Chocolate Malt, Rose Cardamom, and chocolate-chip espresso (I didn’t capture the exact name of that latter one). For my friend, I chose the macarons shown in the above photo: the Chocolate Malt and chocolate-chip espresso varieties I’d gotten for myself, as well as Chai, Fruity Pebbles, Lavender, and Oreo Cheesecake (aren’t those the most YUM-sounding flavors?).

The macarons that I bought for myself didn’t last more than a few minutes beyond my visit to Le Detroit Macaron. I exited the bakery, climbed into my car, and proceeded to scarf all four cookies in quick succession. I tried to savor them and make them last, but MAN! they were so delightful that I just.couldn’t.stop eating them.

The Hazelnut macaron was admittedly a little stale, though still tasty in flavor. But the Chocolate Malt, Rose Cardamom, and chocolate-chip espresso: WOW! were those so delectably fresh and soft and bursting with flavor! The rich chocolate ganache of the Chocolate Malt, the fragrant floral flavor of the Rose Cardamom, and the supreme chocolate-plus-coffee combo of the chocolate-chip espresso were SO SO SO good!

I drove away from Le Detroit Macaron sad that my allotment of macarons were gone but satisfied with getting to experience their deliciousness, however fleeting. I resisted digging into my friend’s macarons and gifted them to her the next day, and she reported back that she enjoyed them.

The next time I need a gift – whether for myself or others – I know where to go: back to Le Detroit Macaron! (Hmm, my birthday is soon; I could totally justify a repeat visit this weekend . . ..)

2756 Evaline St.

Hamtramck, MI 48212

www.ledetroitmacaron.shop

409. Cannelle – May 18, 2019 – Detroit, MI

After an amped-up and extremely fun pedal bar jaunt with the The Michigan Pedaler (which included a visit to German biergarten Jacoby’s), I did a 180 energy-wise, opting to kill time between engagements with tranquil journaling time at Cannelle.

An outpost of the French bakery, which has its original location in Birmingham, opened in downtown Detroit earlier this year. I’d passed its elegant facade many a time prior to my visit, fantasizing about sitting inside and savoring a pastry. I finally made that dream a reality on this Saturday evening in mid-May.

Walking inside the bright, beautiful bakery with its gleaming display cases holding a plethora of pastries, I was greeted by a friendly staff member, who took my order for a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant. The latter was a no-brainer choice; chocolate croissants are kind of my heart (I mean, a chocolate center nestled between buttery, flaky pastry – how is that not a yes???).

Receiving my order, I surveyed the various seating options and decided on a counter seat facing one of the ample windows. I settled in, then bit into that chocolate croissant. And O.M.G.

This was the freshest chocolate croissant I’ve ever eaten – so fresh that the chocolate inside was warm and melty. It was rich, decadent deliciousness. Yes, yes, YES, Cannelle!

And yes again, Cannelle, to your staff! They were kind and attentive during my visit, picking up my empty dishes and even letting me borrow a pen when I realized I didn’t have one. Awesome customer service really makes an experience, and I appreciated the top-level treatment I received from the staff during this visit to Cannelle.

Besides those glorious chocolate croissants, Cannelle proffers a variety of delectable-looking baked goods, such as meringues, macarons, tarts, and eclairs. The loaves of fresh-baked bread looked especially enticing, and I certainly wouldn’t mind returning and enjoying one of Cannelle’s sandwiches nestled between pieces of it (the Le Sancisson with its sausage, tomato, Gruyere cheese, and house-made red-pepper dressing cradled inside a croissant bun looks PHENOMENAL). The salad featured on its website menu looks fresh and flavorful, too.

Beverages offered at Cannelle include espresso- and coffee-based drinks, sparkling water, and fresh-squeezed orange juice.

My visit confirmed what I’d already expected: Cannelle is indeed the perfect place to steal away and savor a treat and some time all to yourself.

45 W. Grand River Ave.

Detroit, MI 48226

(Closed Mondays)

www.cannelledetroit.com

363. Dutch Girl Donuts – September 28, 2018 – Detroit, MI

DUTCH GIRL DONUTS is gracing 100 Places in the D!!!!

After several years of fantasizing about tasting the Detroit-based donut shop’s much-lauded wares, I resolved to finally make the dream a reality last Friday morning and planned a pre-work visit.

Part of the reason I’d put off visiting Dutch Girl Donuts for so long was the parking situation. The bakery doesn’t have its own lot; street parking is required. And if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you likely know that I legit have a phobia around street parking in city settings and generally avoid it at all costs. Thusly, the idea of parallel parking along oft-hectic Woodward Avenue in order to visit Dutch Girl Donuts was not tickling me.

And then there was the whole bullet-proof glass thing. Some online reviewers had mentioned the fact that Dutch Girl Donuts had bullet-proof glass separating the bakery employees from patrons, leading me to speculate on why such protection was needed. Was it wise to visit Dutch Girl Donuts on my own?

These worries around parking and security swirled in my head as I contemplated making the visit. In the end, I decided to go for it and trust my gut. If I got to the donut shop and didn’t like the look of parking options or of the neighborhood itself, I could just drive on by and find another bakery to visit.

It turned out – as is generally the case – that my fears were unfounded. The stretch of Woodward Avenue near Seven Mile that Dutch Girl Donuts is located on felt totally safe to me. Given that the donut shop is open 24 hours, perhaps the bullet-proof glass serves more as a necessary security precaution in the evening hours, or perhaps it’s a relic of the past. Either way, I felt comfortable in the area in and around the bakery – as I did parking along Woodward.

I was easily able to procure a parking spot near the donut shop, parking behind a few other cars. There was enough space to maneuver so that parallel parking wasn’t a traumatic experience, and traffic along Woodward was more sparse than I expected, so I didn’t feel like I was walking out into an onslaught of oncoming traffic when I exited the car.

(Interesting parking-related tidbit: there is a fire hydrant right at the curb near Dutch Girl Donuts, which people were flagrantly disregarding and parking right in front of; park if you dare in that premium zone).

Dutch Girl Donuts had a decent amount of traffic coming in and out of it when I walked up – mostly pleasant-looking older folks. I joined the line formed in the donut shop’s tiny interior and watched the goods get made while waiting to be helped. Freshly fried twisted donuts being plopped into a pool of glaze caught my eye. Glorious!

I only had to wait a few minutes before it was my turn to order. I decided on a half-dozen donuts, which were $4.50. I got one plain cake donut, two cake donuts with chocolate frosting, a sour cream, a glazed chocolate-cake stick, and a twisted glazed. I paid in cash; it’s worth noting here that Dutch Girl Donuts accepts credit cards but requires a maximum purchase of $5 when paying with them.

I practically skipped out of the donut shop with excitement. Cruising along I-75 en route to work, I knew I couldn’t wait until I got there to sample the procured goodies; I grabbed one of the cake donuts with chocolate frosting out of the bag and took a bite. The donut was delicious, incredibly soft and fresh-tasting.

And then there was the sour cream donut.

When I got to work, I decided I wanted to sample another donut before I walked in. I went with the sour cream, and O.M.G.

Perfectly soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, dunked in an irresistible glaze, ridiculously fresh, this sour cream donut was quite easily the best donut I have ever had. I instantly wished I had gotten a half-dozen of them.

That’s not to say the other donuts I got from Dutch Girl Donuts weren’t wonderful. The glazed chocolate-cake stick donut ranked right up there with the sour cream, with that perfect crisp and glazing on the outside and pillowy softness on the inside. The plain cake and twisted glazed donuts were also very good; as with the others, they were obviously very freshly made.

This premium on freshness is huge; so much of what makes a donut wonderful is how recently it was made. So thank you, Dutch Girl Donuts, for doing the work and producing AMAZING donuts 24-7. Perhaps I’ll skip the cider mills this fall and do a revisit to your delightful donut shop in the D instead!

19000 Woodward Ave.

Detroit, MI 48203

(Open 24 hours Mondays through Fridays;

closes at 6 p.m. Saturdays and reopens at 1 a.m. Monday mornings)

355. Shatila Bakery – August 23, 2018 – Dearborn, MI

SHATILA BAKERY IS ON 100 PLACES IN THE D!!! [Cue official-sounding bugles and confetti!!!]

You guys, I’m super excited about this post, because visiting Shatila Bakery in Dearborn was EPIC. This bakery is amazing!

Prior to my visit, I’d assumed Shatila Bakery was awesome because I’d sampled its baklava on several occasions when a coworker at a former job brought it into the office. Baklava is one of my favorite desserts (all that rich honey, crunchy pistachios, and flaky phyllo dough . . . YES, PLEASE), and Shatila does baklava RIGHT. Needless to say, when a friend mentioned she wanted to visit the bakery’s Dearborn location, I didn’t need convincing to tag along.

Knowing how tasty Shatila’s baklava was and seeing how extensive its hours of business are (the Dearborn location is open from 7:30 a.m. to at least 11 p.m. – sometimes 12 a.m.! – daily), I knew the place had to be a big deal. But I was surprised by what I encountered when I walked into the bakery.

Cue to: a vaulted ceiling. A food-court-esque seating area surrounded by twinkle-light-strewn palm trees, supplemented by outdoor patio seating. An ice cream counter with house-made ice cream. And the pièce de résistance: a wraparound bakery counter filled with shelf after shelf of enticing cakes, cookies, and traditional Mediterranean desserts, including various varieties of baklava.

I was beside myself with delight. This was not simply a bakery: Shatila was an experience!

An experience that called for preparation. This was not the type of place where you dawdled around deliberating, my friend and I decided. We’d each picked a paper ticket designating the order we would be waited on upon our arrival but dismissed them once we realized we needed time to study the display cases and the myriad of options they encased. We did just that for a good 10 minutes before we felt confident enough to pick out numbers again – at which point, a sizable crowd had gathered inside the bakery.

Despite the crowd, it didn’t take long for our second round of numbers to be called. Shatila was amply staffed, and its staff members moved with the precision and professionalism of a well-trained army. When it was my turn, I was ready: I ordered six pieces of baklava and a chocolate bool (or boll – I’m admittedly not clear on the spelling), a round confection coated in chocolate that I was told was filled with pistachios.

When I got home, I saw an extra piece of baklava slipped in amongst the six I’d ordered – whether accidentally or intentionally, I’m not sure (I had mentioned to the staff member who served me that I was a first-time visitor and loved baklava, so thanks to him if it was intentional!).

That extra piece of baklava sweetening the deal aside, all of the goodies I got from Shatila that day were delicious. I especially enjoyed two pieces of baklava shaped like little phyllo cups nestling whole pistachios and drenched in honey. The chocolate bool was lovely, too; it appeared to be filled with nougat in addition to the nuts and was rich, chocolatey goodness.

After tasting those delectable desserts, I deemed it official: Shatila Bakery is revisit-worthy! I’m not sure if I’ll ever get past ordering loads of baklava when I return, but if I do, I have to try a slice of the knafeh (described on Shatila’s website as “a shredded dough pastry stuffed with sweet cream or cheese and topped with sugar syrup” – Mmmm) – and a slice of the chocolate mousse cake – oh, and the Jordan almonds . . ..

14300 W. Warren Ave.

Dearborn, MI 48126

(With an additional location in West Bloomfield)

www.shatila.com