Sweet Stroll: Beyond Bread Review Part 2

1.    Name of Bakery: Beyond Bread (this is part 2 of my review)

2.    Part of the World: Three Locations in Tucson, Arizona

3.    Sight: Over 30 varieties of breads displayed on rustic-looking wood shelves ready for purchase.  Countless pastries lit up like a holiday in the chilled glass cases.

4.    Aroma: Busy place as is part restaurant and part bakery, and yet not one area is less than the other. This place is more an atmosphere than an aroma.  Beyond Bread has a perfect balance of eat-in meals (sandwiches and the like) and breads/pastries for eat-in or to go.

5.    Taste of Pastries:
        First, the Flourless Espresso Brownie was to die for! Dense, decadent, rich, chocolate-y, walnut-y and big enough to pace yourself over for a few days or share with others. Pretty flawless. My photo here was taken on the quick so doesn't do it much justice.

 

Second, the Chocolate Mousse Torte was reminiscent of European style bakeries. It had five-six layers/tiers (we ate it up so quickly we lost count!). The chocolate cake part was moist and the mousse was creamy, just right consistency. Here's my photo of this (will be reviewing a Tiramisu from another bakery soon):

        Third, the Lemon Bar.  Eh. Sometimes a lemon bar is just a lemon bar, y’know?

This concludes the two-part review of Beyond Bread from Tucson. My family and I would definitely return to any of the three locations again, and envy those who have such a place close to their home. 

www.beyondbread.com

Sweet Stroll: Shelley's Specialty Desserts Bakery Review

Part of the World:     5845 W. Palmaire, Glendale, Arizona www.shelleysdesserts.com

Sight:        The exterior of the little historic home in Catlin Court Historic District, with its happy pastries painted on one of its sides, lets you know you’re near some joyful treats. Upon opening the door, and hearing the buzz sound that a customer has arrived, I felt as though I had walked into an historic jewel box. Given its cozy interior, you’ll find yourself among a pretty pink wall, a dainty crystal chandelier, little black iron café tables, a chilled glass case with many fresh items ready for purchase, and then the front counter itself which displays cakes, pies, bars, cake pops, petit fours.

Aroma:    The aroma was delicate. No scent was overpowering, and there was a slight hint of confectioner’s sugar mingling in the air.


Taste:        I tried the Lemon Bar. Complete lemony perfection. Try to just take a single bite of this lemon bar and walk away. You will be right back. Shelley makes everything from scratch. The lemons are plentiful and fresh, the crust is flaky and crisp in the right areas. (Below is my first personal culinary photo. I'm learning!)

Bakery
Bonus:     Buttermilk Pie. Shelly makes a delicious buttermilk pie, and this is her trademark treat. She'll offer you a sample. It is a cool, refreshing treat especially welcome on a hot summer day.   


Kid-Friendly:    With an upcoming cookie decorating event and the pirate and princess cake pops on display, this felt like a definite kid-friendly place. I brought home a rice krispie, chocolate, marshmallow, peanut butter, and chocolate brownie bar for my kids to share for dessert after their dinner. These bars are large enough to share. They LOVED this decadent, dense, multi-flavorful bar. Our after dinner dessert conversation brought on a lovely discussion about the importance of peanut butter and rice krispies for the kid in all of us.

Cost: About $3.25-$3.75 for each item.

This review is also on Urbanspoon.