WICKER PARK — There is no more looking through the storefront glass for the mother of three young children who has been eagerly anticipating the opening of a storybook-themed bakery across the street from her family's Division Street home.
On Tuesday, Sharon Skinner and her sons, ages 4, 3 and 10 months, were among the several dozen neighbors and supporters packing A Baker's Tale, a new bakery at 2127 W. Division St. in Wicker Park.
"We have been watching it develop and just missed the cake cutting [ceremony]," Skinner said.
The decor at A Baker's Tale is whimsical, with colorful plush chairs. A tree sculpture with leaves that are pages from "Alice in Wonderland" hangs over the front part of the bakery.
Executive pastry chef Christine LaSorda, the bakery's owner, said she has created "the classics that people already love", but also offers pastries with "flavors that people have never seen together before."
Some menu items that LaSorda conceived along with creative director Danielle Lara, who will also be assisting with baking, include a homemade s'more with either chocolate-swirled marshmallow fluff or peanut butter for $2.75. Peanut butter cream puffs are $4.50.
Other pastries include a banana split eclair with fresh sliced bananas, strawberry, chocolate and vanilla mousse scoops dipped in chocolate ganache and topped with whipped cream, peanuts and a cherry.
The bakery's main menu is divided into muffins, scones, bars, cookies, macaroons and cream puffs and eclairs, in addition to tarts, pies and cupcakes.
Most cookies on the menu cost $1.25. There are seven varieties of eclairs priced at $4.50 each.
For those looking to grab lunch as well as dessert, A Baker's Tale offers turkey, roast beef, ham and Caprese sandwiches, as well as a soup of the day and salads.
To wash everything down, the bakery serves tea as well as coffee roasted by West Loop-based Passion House Coffee Roasters.
Passion House owner Joshua Millman said that the bakery was serving a special private blend of coffee that combined a "milk chocolate creamy body with a nice fruity complexity to it."
A Baker's Tale, 2127 W. Division St. Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tues-Sunday. Ph: 872-206-5581.
