What are Rochester bakeries doing that’s special for the
holidays? We asked the four winners of our 2018 Best of Rochester reader’s poll that question, and last week we spotlighted
the seasonal treats offered by two of them. Here’s the second of our two-part
series, focusing on runners-up Leo’s Bakery and Deli and Scratch Bakeshop. Read
on to learn about their offerings, customer favorites, and how to order on
time.
LEO’S BAKERY AND DELI
101 Despatch Drive, East Rochester.
249-1000; leoselite.com
Holiday-specific offerings: Butter
cookies ($10.95 per pound), fruitcake, fruit stollen,
and anise-flavored Christmas cut-out cookies. The shop also sells cookies,
candies, and breads, oils, and other goods imported from Italy.
Most
popular holiday items: The anise cut-out
cookies. “That’s the bakery’s recipe from the olden days,” says Leo’s general
manager Sam DiPerna. “We get phone calls from as far
as Georgia or Florida from people asking us to ship them anise cut-outs each
year.”
Holiday
treats for dietary needs: None.
Custom
holiday orders: Cookie trays, custom cakes, cannoli, and Yule log cakes. And you can also order
cold-cut or sub platters for your holiday parties, from the deli side of the
business.
Ordering
deadlines and guidelines: Last day to place holiday orders
is Saturday, December 22. Then it’s first-come, first-serve with pre-made
goodies, but there’s always plenty for everyone, DiPerna
says.
SCRATCH BAKESHOP
41 Russell Street. 360-4844; scratchbakeshoproc.com
Holiday-specific offerings: “For the
holidays we’re offering our usual menu plus a larger variety of iced shortbread
cookies,” says Scratch Bakeshop co-owner Kate Cassels. Shapes include
snowflakes, snowmen, Stars of David, and winter hats and mittens. These come as
both traditional cookies ($2.50 each) and in vegan and gluten-free options ($3
each), and are available in the pastry case daily and for custom order. “We
also make holiday cutout cookie place cards, which are a fun addition to your holiday
dinner,” Cassels says.
Holiday
treats for dietary needs: Vegan and allergen-free options are
available.
Custom
holiday orders: Scratch accepts custom orders for all
types of desserts, including cookies, cakes, and pies (at least one week’s
notice is required on all custom orders).
Ordering
deadlines and guidelines: The shop will be
closed on Wednesday, December 26.
<Special
events: Scratch will host local pop-up shops every weekend throughout the
month of December featuring small businesses, including Chara
Dow Rustic Works and The House of Roushey. Visit Scratch
Bakeshop on social media for details.
This article appears in Dec 5-11, 2018.
