If you live a life too busy for making a pie (or you fear baking) this is the time of year when you have to get creative. It’s either assign dessert to your guests or find a great baker to do the work for you. Though it is uncouth to dish out restaurant take out to guests at your holiday party, there is no shame in serving anything out of a pretty, pink pastry box.
Sometimes, a masterful guest list will afford at least one dessert maker in the bunch. But more often then not, Holiday dinners are populated with people eager to share their favorite side dish.
So if you can’t find a pastry chef on your invite list, I highly recommend getting over the guilt of not being able to bake, and march yourself to a trusted, local bakery.
If you live in Los Angeles, here are some amazing options:
La Brea Bakery, the Original bakery
The Original Bakery
624 South La Brea Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone (323) 939-6813
Email holiday orders to: orders@labreabakery.com
Pies Cakes and Tarts
Starting this Saturday (and until the holidays are over) you can visit La Brea Bakery (starting at 9 am) for free samples of pie! Be sure to try the Spiced yam and pumpkin pureed Thanksgiving pie ($30), Apple Crumble ($18), Cherry crumble ($20) and the toasted pecan and molasses Pecan tart ($28). Every pie is baked fresh, daily and can be ordered in advance for the holidays.
For a great cheese plate, be sure to pick up these delicious breads, created by my culinary hero, Nancy Silverton.
If your idea of a dessert course includes a plate of oozing triple creams and soft rounds of chevre, La Brea Bakery’s holiday loaves are just the thing you need to make the cheese course sing. Have the bread masters bag you a loaf of apple spice bread ($6.75), a Cranberry walnut round ($6.75), or the intensely flavored (and incredibly heavy) Fruit and Nut Bread ($13).
*Oh! And if you go by the bakery on Saturday, be sure to try the custard cake. Though this treat is quick to sell out, it’s worth going in early for a taste of the sweet, egg custard and flaky crust. Oh. My. God.
Tell George (the lovely British man behind the counter) that Food Woolf sent you!
SUSINA BAKERY
from robjtak at flickr
Susina Bakery
7122 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323.934.7900
Jenna, the owner, is as sweet as the desserts she creates. Try the freshly baked apple pie, pecan pie, or the cherry pie (each $28). Look like a culinary god when you serve the quince tart with vanilla hazelnut crumble or cranberry tart with vanilla hazelnut crumble (8 inch – $28; 10 inch – $42; 12 inch – $58). Don’t sleep on the carrot cake (9 inch – $35; 11 inch – $55; 13 inch – $75.00) or pumpkin cheesecake (8 inch – $35; 10 inch – $55).
Photo by milford cubicle on flickr
Place your holiday order in advance and you won’t need to wait long for your gorgeous and tasty holiday treats.
Susina’s staff are incredibly friendly and capable–a breath of fresh air in a town littered with LA bakers that would rather be rude than give good customer service. With desserts so delicious and carefully made, you’ll be sure to boast you picked it out.