Eastern Iowa Baking Co.

After several trips to the new bakery in town, I finally have the time to write out a delicious review!

   Eastern Iowa Baking Co. opened in February in the old floral shop building in downtown Eldridge (2nd & Franklin).  The building was originally constructed as a doctor's office in 1857.

photo from their FB

The bakery is cute and tiny with a small dine-in area.  The morning selection includes baked doughnuts, pastries, and sometimes quiche.  I had a horrible internship selling quiche one time.  *shudders*

I often see the owner, Rhonda Groh baking away as I run by at an ungodly hour of the morning.  She has been a certified pastry chef since 2003.  Her family has been selling her goods at the Freight House Farmer's Market for several years now and will continue to do so.   The tip jar at the bakery is always donated to a charitable cause.

Red has forgone the whole concept of breakfast and always heads straight for the baked goods they also sell daily.  She's had cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and a lemon bar.  There's no way this kid was switched at birth.

Unkempt blonde hair.  Brownie for breakfast.  Definitely mine.

"You mean people actually eat vegetables?"

Lemon bar is sort of a fruit

Richie usually chooses a big cinnamon roll and a medium roast coffee.  Every one raves about the coffee from here and by everyone I do mean several retirees who spend their days roaming around Eldridge.  They would know, dammit.

Although they receive a steady stream of business, we have never had a problem finding a place to sit.  The food is served on nice plates with real silverware.  I think they could use some jazzy music playing in the background.  Not because I like jazz, but because it seems like the right thing to do.

We've never had a bad dish at Eastern Iowa BC and we love the location.  Be sure to check it out sometime and then catch yourself some diabetes at Smilee's Ice Cream, right across the street.  The bakery is open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.  I'll have to update once we try lunch there!

Homer's Deli and Sweetheart Bakery

Who wants to take a road trip to Clinton, Iowa?!  No one.  No one wants to take a road trip to Clinton, Iowa.  Too bad- here we go!

Though largely thought of as an industrial town that stinks to high heaven, Clinton is a hidden gem with some cool spots.  Paul's for example.  Paul's is a discount general store that has just about everything you could ever think you need. I needed chocolate covered bacon soda pop.  Head downtown and you'll find a lot of small businesses, secondhand stores, and thrift shops.  After visiting a few of these places, we headed to the Lyons district for a bite to eat.

Homer's Deli, connected to Sweetheart Bakery, looks and smells like a Hungry Hobo.
                                        

It was established in 1984 and named after local grocer Homer Kopp. Unlike HH, they offer an array of bread and you can customize your sandwich with over 20 different condiments, including pickles!  I can't find their menu online, but it's a deli, you can figure it out.

I ordered their barbecue pulled pork sandwich with mustard and pickles.

My mom ordered the Russian Reuben which is turkey crowned in Swiss cheese buried under Russian coleslaw. Several nationalities under one rye roof.

A slight twist on the traditional.  She also ordered a side of pasta salad which seemed to be of the mayonnaise persuasion, so I passed.

I'm going to have to use the most despised word in the English language to describe the pulled pork...moist.  It really was.  Probably because it was steeped in a sweet barbecue sauce that complemented the yellow mustard and pickles nicely.

 My mom enjoyed her hearty Russian Reuben, claiming the flavors meshed well together.

The bakery side was a hoppin with activity, it seems to be THE PLACE to go for graduation cakes.  Almost too pretty to eat...almost. The bakery has been going strong since 1950, and original recipes are still used today.

Sorry for the bum shots ladies

 After several customers cut in front of me...(wtf Clintonians?)  I ordered a filled long john and three iced sugar cookies.  The bewitching cookies were on the crisp side, and the icing was very sweet.

 Red did not eat much of her doughnut, but I took a bite and it reminded me of the gems at Old Towne Bakery in Moline (whoops didn't review them yet).  Apparently Sweetheart is known for their blarnies, but I did not partake because putting nuts on a cake is a surefire way to desecrate a delicious cake.
If you find yourself in Clinton, be sure to check out this deli/bakery combo. A sandwich and a sugar cookie...what more could you need for lunch? Vegetables? pfft.

Yummy's

My stomach and teeth are screaming at me today. This is why...














When I was in Iowa City, I did a bit of a cakewalk, visiting some local bakeries and grocery stores. Pictured above is one that I actually had to drive to, as it is located in Coralville near the Oakdale campus (2180 Norcor Ave). Yummy's is a bakery that specializes in cakes. The previous location on the Coralville strip flooded in 2008, but luckily the owner decided to rebuild. It's now in a new strip mall in the midst of a eerie neighborhood where every house looks exactly the same. Sort of Edward Scissorhand-ish minus the pastels.














We walked in and were greeted by beguiling scent of fresh baked cake. The store is small, but very clean and shiny, with display cases filled with individual portions of baked goods. The walls had photos of wedding and occasion cakes which you can also view on their Facebook page.














Instead of cupcakes, Yummy's has squares of their cakes in just about every flavor conceivable. It was almost too much to choose from, but I was able to narrow it down to a simple marble cake with chocolate buttercream. My sister chose milk chocolate- chocolate cake filled with chocolate sauce, chocolate mousse, and topped with chocolate whipped cream. Oy Vey. Next time I will go with something more exotic like the Mango Mousse or Almond Marzipan.














They also offer cookies and pastries. The cinnamon rolls are, dare I say, cinn-full...nope better not. That would be lame.













So here is my cute container o' cake. The yellow and chocolate flavors integrated nicely in my mouth.














The frosting was just the right amount, but could have been a bit sweeter. Then again, I would prefer a spoonful of sugar be 'a bit sweeter.'














Getchyour swirl on girl. I rode those curves right on into Cakeville.

While traipsing through the ped mall, we made sure to stop in at Revival. Revival is a store with a good mix of vintage and contemporary clothing with cute handmade accessories sold on consignment. They also have this adorable cake stand filled with cupcakes from Sugarplum.














A business since 2008, Sugarplum bakes cupcakes in an at-home bakery and sells them at Revival and the Iowa City Farmer's Market. Flavors are limited to what is baked that particular day, but here is a full menu of flavors that she can make for events and parties.

On that particular Thursday, I had a choice of chocolate chip or vanilla. The lady at Revival struggled to smoosh it into a pink takeout carton. Frosting got everywhere, but no matter. I just used a spoon to excavate it. The frosting was very light and airy, obviously whipped cream based. I prefer buttercream, but this was good too. The cake was actually my favorite part. That may be the first time I have ever said that. My tongue was joyfully greeted by big chunks of gourmet chocolate in a moist yellow cake. If I had to choose one of the two businesses to cater an event, I would hire Sugarplum based on taste and presentation... I put too much thought into that.

Finally, I stopped at the local co-op to fraternize with the dirty hippies and impeccably dressed upper crust of Iowa City.














New Pioneer Co-op (22 S. Van Buren) is a very cool place. Produce is locally or regionally grown, other food products are organic, natural, vegan, gluten-free, etc. The co-op is owned by 20,000 local residents. You can become a member for a one time investment fee, or pay a 5% non-member charge every time you shop.

We visited their bakery section where they offer a potpourri of vegan and gluten-free treats, but I chose a cranberry orange bar. Sometimes the stomachache is worth it.













This little bar was surprisingly tart and imbued with flavor. The orange zest was robust, but not too strong. The cranberries were ample and juicy. Got my Vitamin C on. It was probably the healthiest thing I ate all day.

Boston Mass part 2

On the only morning that it didn't rain in sheets, we walked up to Beacon Hill for breakfast and stopped in a cafe called The Paramount. The guidebook I found in our hotel room claims it has been a Boston favorite for breakfasts since 1937.














Walking in, I was surprised at how tiny it is. It's very narrow and a half dozen or so small tables were crammed against the left side of the wall. They have specific instructions on going to the counter and ordering, paying, and then finding a seat. The rules explain that this helps keep people moving in and out and minimizes wait. Though the restaurant was full when we walked in, by the time we had ordered and were ready to sit, a table had opened up.




























We both ordered spinach, feta, and tomato omelets. They were 8.50 and came with toast and potatoes. Just a couple minutes later the food was ready and were eating.




























This definitely beat the Rice Krispy treat I had for breakfast the day before. The ingredients were fresh and the food was prepared in open view of patrons, so I know he didn't sneeze in it.

After visiting Paul Revere's sad little house, we were in need of a sugar rush and luckily we were in Little Italy. We passed by a few pastry shops but I was drawn to this one because of the funky marquee.













Modern Pastry was opened over 70 yrs ago by Italian immigrants. They claim that the recipes are originals passed down from 'the old country.'
I drooled over the pastry case, while my mom picked up some pasta for my sister.
























































My mom got a slice of carrot cake, while I got a whoopie pie. Here's the cute little box they came in.













I took that baby back to the hotel room and had my way with it. The next picture includes content of pleasurable nature. Look away if you are easily offended.

































Best whoopie pie ever. then again, I've only had grocery store versions and Wicked Whoopies
Much like Lindsay Lohan's nostrils, my lips were covered with a sinful layer of white powder. My mom quickly scarfed the carrot cake before I could poke a finger in it. Bummer.

If we ever return to Boston, I'm definitely stopping by Modern again to try a cannoli, just so I can exclaim, Holy cannoli!

Village Inn

Well sometimes you have a hankering for something from a chain restaurant. For us, it's usually for Red Robin or Cracker Barrel, but this time it was for a Village Inn breakfast. Everyone has a diner they frequented in high school where they spent hours annoying diners and waitresses. Village Inn was just that place for me. my friends and I spent hours there sipping hot chocolate and dissecting pieces of pie. If you don't have a Village Inn, a Perkin's or Baker's Square might have been your place.














I also have many good memories of eating with my grandparents and family at Village Inn. I don't think I have ever had a bad meal from there. The decor is pretty typical of this type of restaurant. Kinda blah but no one notices anyway. The booths are comfy though!














Both of us had breakfast on our minds since our failed attempt at eating at Symposium (yuck!) So Richie ordered a double bacon double cheese skillet. It's like the ice cream sundae of breakfast foods. Breakfast potatoes topped with scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon. Apparently this one had double the amount of cheese and bacon. Comes with your choice of pancakes or toast...is that really a hard choice?




























He's not sucking his food through a straw...yep, that is cheese. I must say, that skillet was mighty cheesy. Every forkful had a massive amount of delicious goo.

I'll be honest, my omelet was made with Egg Beaters because I had to have my cholesterol tested the next morning. I had to add extra salt and pepper to add some flavor, but the consistency was nice and fluffy. The ham, green peppers and onions folded inside were delicious. Hashbrowns were good, but I like them a little crispier. Actually, I like my potatoes burnt, so I ate the browned part. The pancakes were so big and fluffy. Richie devoured his and most of mine.



























I flipped through the dessert menu like 9 times. You can't go to VI and not review a slice of pie. Every Wednesday you get a free piece, but it wasn't Wed., so we paid the 3 dollars and change for a slice of lemon meringue.














The lemon filling was very sweet, but the meringue was my favorite part. It was a delicious pillow of marshmallowy goodness. I wanted to bury my head in it and fall asleep.














Here I am paying at the counter, trying to ignore the pie case. A must have around the holidays is their Candy Cane Pie. My family sort of obsesses over it as we rush through our ham dinner.














For a breakfast guaranteed to satisfy, try Village Inn. The rest of the menu isn't bad either, but not worth blogging home about.

Bread Basket

The Bread Basket bakery opened in 1996 and has since expanded into a café location at Cumberland Square in Bettendorf. The bakery specializes in breads made with no artificial flavors or preservatives.













The breads can also be found at the Freighthouse Farmer’s Market where I have purchased a couple loaves of wheat and Midwestern Blend, a bread made of “whole wheat flour, whole oats, sunflower, flax and pumpkin seeds, millet, and a touch of honey and molasses.” Beware, the guy in the market booth will almost force you to taste test every one of their breads, so come hungry. You can also find loaves in Hy-Vee stores, you’ll pay a little more, but the taste is worth it.

After a meeting in Bettendorf, I stopped by their café (2306 Spruce Hills Drive) to peruse their sweet baked goods. Gotta love baked goods.





Coffee, of course













Cute little cafe







Though late in the day, they still had a decent selection of sweets, but my eyes immediately latched onto the cupcakes. Unlike big cities, we do not have many bakeries in the area, let alone cupcake stores, so I was happy to see these guys… or girls. I guess cupcakes would be feminine?













They had just 3 flavors left-a cookies n cream, carrot cake, and 2 raspberry cupcakes, so I went with raspberry.














I tend to eat just the tops of cupcakes and muffins. I don’t mess around. I didn’t want to buy a cupcake and sit alone dissecting and mutilating it with a fork, so I went to my car and destroyed it. Well, most of it.














The frosting was light and fluffy with a slight hint of raspberry. The little chocolate on top started to melt into it, yum! The cake was just yellow and a little dry, probably because it was late in the day and the baking seems to be done in the morning. I’d like to stop by some morning to try a fresh cinnamon roll. They also serve deli wraps and sandwiches made on their bread during lunch time.

This place is definitely not a greasy joint, but sometimes you need a little fiber after all that grease. Plus, we are leaving for North Carolina and I wanted to have an update before then. We shall return with greasy joints from the sort-of south in 10 days.