Just a spoonful of sugar...Come to Delightful Pastries July 9 for National Sugar Cookie Day

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Some things never go out of style and sugar cookies are most certainly one of them. Delightful Pastries wants to celebrate the simple genius of a sugar cookie with all of Chicago during National Sugar Cookie Day. See how Delightful Pastries unleashes their creativity with their classic sugar cookies baked fresh daily. With whimsical flower and animal shapes, these cookies are both sweet to look at and eat ($1-$4 or 18.99 per lb.). Instead of a bouquet of flowers, grab as many of the sugar cookie lollipops as you can to make a bouquet of sugar cookies ($2.99).  

Check out these sugar cookies and other desserts at Delightful Pastries locations: Old Town at 1710 N. Wells St., (312) 255-0724; Jefferson Park at 5927 W. Lawrence, (773) 545-7215, and Chicago French Market at 131 N. Clinton, (312) 234-9644. Visitwww.delightfulpastries.com for more information.

Delightful Pastries Gets Ready for Paczki Day. Have you ordered your Paczki?

If there ever was a question as to whom rules the queendom of Paczki making in Chicago, these photos will help solve the query. The mother-daughter team of Stasia Hawryszczuk  and Dobra Bielinski, partners of Chicago’s Delightful Pastries with brother Robert Hawryszczuk, and his wife Nico Hua rule the roost. The team, with a handsome able-bodied staff of helpers, is cranking out delicious homemade Pasczki to the tune of 1000s per day to meet pre-order demands of 36,000 plump and delicious filled authentic Polish Paczki. If you think Paczki are the same as doughnuts, think again. The traditional Paczki is “all about the dough. It’s denser; it’s a yeast dough that doesn’t collapse when you bite in,” said Dobra.  “One of the reasons ours are so good is that we don’t use any additives; everything is from scratch – flour, sugar, water, eggs are the base.:  Paczki day is an annual tradition celebrated in Poland tomorrow (on the 27^th of February) but here in America, it’s celebrated on March 4, Fat Tuesday.” Whether you’re a purist, choosing traditional varieties such as Fresh Strawberry & Whipped Cream, Custard Topped with Chocolate Fudge, Apricot Jelly, Raspberry Jelly, Rose Petal Jelly, Plum Butter, or want a gourmet flavor such as Cannoli Paczki or Passion Fruit Jelly, there’s a Delightful Paczki for every taste. However, it’s Delightful Pastries “drunken” Paczki that has had helped Delightful make its mark nationally, with three booze-filled choices:  Jameson Whiskey with Chocolate Custard, Vodka and Custard with Madagascar Vanilla, and Lemon Curd with Moonshine. All three Chicago area Delightful Pastries locations (Jefferson Park on Lawrence; Old Town on Wells and the West Loop at the Chicago French Market) will be fully stocked. Prices range from $2 to $3.25 apiece. Come hungry. It’s impossible to just eat one. Like Delightful Pastries on Facebook and Follow on Twitter @DelightPastries. Visit http://www.delightfulpastrries.com for more information. You can order Paczki at the Lawrence Ave. bakery at: 773-545-7215.

Dobra Bielinski discussing how to make Paczki

Pick a day in December. Chances are there’s a Pie to Celebrate. December 1 is National Pie Day; December 3 is National Apple Pie Day; December 25 is Pumpkin Pie Day

December 1 has been set aside as National Pie Day. In additional to Delightful Pastries’ full selection of full and mini individual pies, they’ve added two new choices just in time for the holidays.

Joining the roundup, including Apple, Pumpkin, Pecan and other favorites, are a Key Lime Pie ($30), a deep dish pie made with real key lime juice, extra smooth and creamy, serving 14 and Cranberry Fudge Pie ($25), a graham cracker crust filled with chocolate and topped with cranberries, a study in sweet and sour contrasts.

Pies are available at all three Delightful Pastries locations: 5927 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, in the Jefferson Park neighborhood (phone: 773-545-7215); the Old Town Chicago location, which includes the Café, at 1710 N. Wells St., just north of North Avenue (phone: 312-255-0724) and the Chicago French Market location, 131 N. Clinton Ave., Chicago (phone: 312-234-9644).

 

Delightful Pastries Mini Pies photo credit: Cindy Kurman

Delightful Pastries in Chicago Takes Homemade Sandwiches, Soups and Other Savory Specialties to a New Level of Goodness

Many delighted health conscious Chicagoans have found that Delightful Pastries, one of Chicago’s most beloved bakeries, is also the creator of wonderfully fresh homemade sandwiches and soups that are as healthy as they are delicious. Delightful Pastry’s focus on savory foods is readily apparent at two of their locations: the Delightful Pastries Café and Bakery in Old Town (1710 N. Wells St., Chicago; 312-255-0724) and the popular Delightful Pastries kiosk at the Chicago French Market (131 N. Clinton, Chicago; 312-234-9644).

“Many of our customers bypass the sweets and instead go for our savory creations,” said partner Dobra Bielinski. “We’re more than happy to please them with a wide selection of sandwiches and soups, all made from scratch. We make these dishes with the same attention to quality and freshness as we do all of our baked goods.” Partner Robert Hawryszczuk takes pride in Delightful Pastries’ homemade offerings. “We use family recipes to make our sandwiches and soups," he said. "Even the sauces in the sandwiches, such as homemade horseradish sauce. We believe that every customer deserves the best quality food just like how we make them at home.”

All Delightful Pastries sandwich ingredients are freshly prepared in-house without preservatives or other fillers. “Our guests appreciate the fresh deliciousness of our sandwiches,” said Bielinski. “If you can imagine a sandwich where the bread is just-baked on premises, the meat is local and all natural, the bacon is lean, thick-cut and locally cured, and where the ham and pork cutlets are from a local Polish butcher, then you have a good idea as to why our sandwiches have so many fans. At the Wells location, we have vegan sour dough bread and gluten free options for those who have these special requirements.”

Sandwich favorites, available at both Delightful Pastries locations, include The Polish ($8), with Polish ham, Swiss cheese, homemade horseradish sauce, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, tomato and field greens, served on a fresh butter croissant; the Thanksgiving ($8), hand carved turkey breast, Swiss cheese, homemade horseradish, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, cranberry sauce, tomato and field greens on a fresh butter croissant; The Fusion ($8), “Ceviche Style” shrimp salad, mayonnaise, spice, pickles and field greens on a fresh butter croissant, and The Three Piggly Wigglys ($10), made with Polish ham, lean crispy bacon, pan fried pork cutlet and pickles, served on an “everything” bun. Peanut butter lovers can’t resist the He Lives! ($8), with peanut butter, grape jelly, lean crispy bacon, banana, house secret sauce, all served on a fresh butter croissant.
 
Signature Specialty Sandwiches at the Wells Street location the unique B.E.L.T. Sandwich ($8.50), made with peppered bacon, egg salad, baby lettuces, tomato, and served on a homemade croissant. The Tuna Sandwich ($8.75) features Mediterranean tuna salad (with artichokes, sundried tomatoes, olives, and vinaigrette), topped with baby arugula and served on sunflower rye sourdough bread.

Delightful Pastries’ soups ($5.50 per 12 oz. serving at Wells Street Location and $4.00 per 12 oz. serving at French Market) are equally fresh and delicious, based around all natural soup stocks that are made from scratch, either chicken or vegan. “We’re pleased to offer a nice variety of freshly made soups,” said Bielinski. “Our guests have discovered that these filling, healthful recipes are perfect any time of the year. Served with our freshly baked bread, they are an amazing meal onto themselves.”

On the lighter soup side are the Chicken Noodle Soup and the chilled Gazpacho (seasonal and vegan). Heartier soups include Split Pea with Ham, New England Clam Chowder, Spring Harvest Soup, Beef Mushroom Barley and the Cream-free, Gluten-free Butternut Squash soup.

The savory collection at the both locations also include freshly baked Quiches, Frittatas and Spinach Lamb Pie, salads, and the to-die-for Pierogi, which have been Delightful Pastries signature items since the beginning.

Go Nuts. Two Days Slated to Honor the Pecan – August 20 and 21

Celebrate with a Delicious Delightful Pastries’ Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie

If you’re a fan of pecans, you’ll go nuts about two upcoming holidays. Tuesday, August 20 is 

National Chocolate Pecan Pie Day. And, if that isn’t good enough, Wednesday, August 21 is National Pecan Torte Day.

Delightful Pastries is celebrating at all three of its locations (Chicago French Market, N. Wells St., and Jefferson Park) by offering their delicious Chocolate Pecan Bourbon Pie ($5.25/mini pie; $25/8-inch pie) by executive pastry chef and owner Dobra Bielinski (recipe below). Delightful Pastry also has the Chocolate Pecan Pie available without Bourbon.
Here’s a tidbit that will pique your interest. Did you know that pecans contain zinc, which boosts testosterone? Zinc is the reason people think oysters are aphrodisiacs. We bet you're in the mood for a slice now!

Not just for Thanksgiving, pecan pie is a Southern staple and for good reason. There’s nothing quite like the smell of its warm, buttery crust and gooey, nutty center coming out of the oven. 

The origin of the pecan pie is a little flaky.  Claims have been made of the dish existing in the early 1800s in Louisiana, but this does not appear to be backed up by recipes or literature. Attempts to trace the dish's origin have not found any recipes dated earlier than 1897, and well-known cookbooks such as Fannie Farmer and The Joy of Cooking did not include this dessert before 1940. 

Some have stated that the French invented pecan pie soon after settling in New Orleans, after being introduced to the pecan nut by Native Americans. Pecan pie may be a variant of chess pie, which is made with a similar butter-sugar-egg custard.

Whatever the history, it holds a well-deserved spot on your dinner menu.

Most pecan pie recipes call for a mix of eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla, salt and syrup or molasses poured into a pastry shell. Adding melting chocolate or bourbon are popular variations of the classic. Regardless, a scoop of fresh vanilla ice cream is always a welcome addition.

Delightful Pastries’ gives it a welcoming twist, adding bittersweet chocolate and bourbon to make a perfect pie for any occasion. 

About Delightful Pastries
Founded in 1989, the Delightful Pastries is family-owned and operated, and is one of Chicago’s most beloved bakeries. The partnership includes mother Stasia Hawryszczuk, who manages the original Jefferson Park location with her daughter Dobra Hawryszczuk Bielinski. Dobra also oversees the Old Town location, and her brother Robert Hawryszczuk, along with his wife, Nico Hua, operates the Chicago French Market location. 

From its roots as the baker of authentic homemade Polish specialties prepared according to European baking traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation, Delightful Pastries has expanded its delicious offering of fresh products to include a wide range of breads, brownies and bars, pastries, croissants, cakes, tortes, pies, macaroons, cookies and savory items such as soups, sandwiches, salads and quiches. 

Delightful Pastries has been featured in numerous local and national publications including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, all local television news outlets and even the Tonight Show.

The original Delightful Pastries location is at 5927 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, in the Jefferson Park neighborhood (phone: 773-545-7215). Store hours are Tuesday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; closed on Monday. The Old Town Chicago location, which includes the Café, is at 1710 N. Wells St., just north of North Avenue (phone: 312-255-0724). Store hours are Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Chicago French Market location is at 131 N. Clinton Ave., Chicago (phone: 312-234-9644). Store hours are Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed on Sundays.

About Delightful Pastries Founded in 1989, the Delightful Pastries is family-owned and operated, and is one of Chicago’s most beloved bakeries. The partnership includes mother Stasia Hawryszczuk, who manages the original Jefferson Park location with her daughter Dobra Hawryszczuk Bielinski. Dobra also  oversees the Old Town location, and her brother Robert Hawryszczuk, along with his wife, Nico Hua, operates the Chicago French Market location. From its roots as the baker of authentic homemade Polish specialties prepared according to European baking traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation, Delightful Pastries has expanded its delicious offering of fresh products to include a wide range of breads, brownies and bars, pastries, croissants, cakes, tortes, pies, macaroons, cookies and savory items such as soups, sandwiches, salads and quiches. Delightful Pastries has been featured in numerous local and national publications including the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, all local television news outlets and even the Tonight Show. The original Delightful Pastries location is at 5927 W. Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, in the Jefferson Park neighborhood (phone: 773-545-7215). Store hours are Tuesday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; closed on Monday. The Old Town Chicago location, which includes the Café, is at 1710 N. Wells St., just north of North Avenue (phone: 312-255-0724). Store hours are Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Chicago French Market location is at 131 N. Clinton Ave., Chicago (phone: 312-234-9644). Store hours are Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed on Sundays. For more information about Delightful Pastries, including catering, delivery, and wholesale services, please send an email to info@delightfulpastries.com or visit the website at www.delightfulpastries.com. # # # Delightful Pastries’ chocolate pecan bourbon pie By: Executive Pastry Chef & Owner, Dobra Bielinski 6 ounces butter, at room temperature 1 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup corn syrup 1/4 cup molasses 5 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 6 ounces pecan halves 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped 2 tablespoons bourbon 1 9-inch pie shell Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In an electric mixer, beat the butter with the sugar till smooth. Add the corn syrup and molasses, then the flour and mix well. Beat in the eggs one by one, scraping down after each egg; add the vanilla extract and salt. Fold the pecans and chocolate by hand, add the bourbon. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, till the top is dry and the filling is barely jiggling. Let cool. 8 servings.