Good Northshore Bakery

I'd just like to put in a good word for The Bakery From Elm in Wilmette (I believe it moved from somewhere else, explaining the rather odd name.) Very good layer cakes, really nice carrot cake, and excellent pies -- apple and cherry -- made in paper sacks. I brought the apple pie with some cinnamon ice cream (from Hartigan's in Evanston) to a BBQ last weekend and it was a big hit. I'm hankering to try the lemon chiffon cakes they have there; we've had the chocolate and I thought it was lovely though my kids and husband thought it wasn't quite chocolatey enough. The bakery also features a popular frosted ginger cookie which I want to sample sometime also. The owner is an extremely personable fellow. I've had a hard time finding decent bakeries around here (why this should be so is beyond me) so I'm happy to have found this place.

The Bakery From Elm
1162 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette 847 251-7611

I like the Bakery from Elm. But I think any discussion of good Northshore bakeries should include Bennison's - Davis/Maple in Evanston. My rationale for mentioning it is that the chef there - Jory Downer - was one of three US chefs on the American team which recently took top honors at the World Cup of Baking. Here's one story. Imagine how the Italians and (especialy) the French must have felt at losing the world's most prestigious baking competition to a bunch of Americans.

Bakery on Elm moved to Wilmette from Elm St. in Winnetka - the owner (Leslie Amaya I think) had to move due to high rent increases. Their cakes are fantastic - he made my wedding cake using a family recipe and it turned out fantastic.

My husband got my birthday pie (apple) at Bakery from Elm last week. It was really yummy. The owner is Leslie Anama, and he was very accommodating, by all reports. I can't wait to try the coffee cakes, which are another weakness of mine. We also sampled the cupcakes, and I think he uses Italian buttercream, which is much lighter and fluffier than the heavy goopy stuff most places use. Now that is icing I could enjoy; usually I can take or leave frosted cakes.

I am especially pleased to learn that he can make a cake with non-dairy icing, as my son has a dairy allergy, which usually means homemade or kosher cakes (not always the best).

The website: www.bakeryfromelm.com