Photo by Alyse Horn
Priory Fine Pastries has been open on East Ohio Street since 2004 and serves up an assortment of sweets, such as cinnamon rolls, creamed horns, pies, cupcakes, and the list goes on.

By Alyse Horn

It can be said that the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. If that’s true, then pastries can bring that love to another level. Here’s what four Northside bakeries specialize in during the holiday season and information for catering orders.

Chateau Café & Cakery, 1501 Preble Ave.
Holiday cookie trays are a popular item at Chateau Café & Cakery, as well as their homemade pies. Owner Keren DeCarlo said everything is homemade in house from scratch and there are no preservatives in the baked goods or other menu items. For December the shop is promoting $25 for a small batch of 30 cookies and $50 for a large batch of 60 cookies. Gluten free cookies are also available upon request and priced at $38 for a small batch and $75 for a large batch. The café also bakes a variety of cakes, cupcakes, scones and muffins.

DeCarlo said orders are available for pick up or delivery, and that the café also does catering for holiday parties or other events throughout the year. The catering menus include an assortment of items for breakfast or lunch. DeCarlo asked that orders are put in at least 24 to 48 hours in advance for catering, but if there is an emergency to give them a call and if possible the café will try to accommodate your needs.

Call (412) 802-2537 to place an order.

Schorr Bakery, 3912 Perrysville Ave.
The bakery has been in the Schorr family for a little over four decades, said Kaitlyn Schorr, daughter of owners Margaret and James Schorr. Pumpkins pies and an array of cakes are top sellers around the holidays. One reason for the popularity of the cakes may be due to their decorator who is Kaitlyn’s sister-in-law and a former art teacher.

“She is good with cake designing and does beautiful work,” Kaitlyn said.
Cakes should be ordered 48 hours in advance., Other orders may be placed with 24 hours’ notice. More notice is appreciated when it comes to large orders. The bakery also makes homemade strudels, cookies, donuts and dinner rolls.

Call (412) 321-7568 to place an order.

BreadWorks Bakery, 2110 Brighton Rd.
Along with its “Famous Focaccias”, available Monday through Friday year round, BreadWorks covers its bases when it comes to holiday breads. BreadWorks Vice-President and Head of Distribution, Fred Hartman, said on December 23 and December 24 the shop will be offering Sweet Egg Bread, and Chocolate Babka “for your New Year’s parties” on December 31. The shop also offers holiday breads for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, and on October 15 which is BreadWorks’ birthday.

BreadWorks, which began on the Northside in 1979, was originally called French Oven Bakery until 1984 when the name was sold to a franchise. The bakery then changed its name to The Breadworks, and dropped “the” in 1997 during the creation of the current logo.

Priory Fine Pastries , 528 E. Ohio St.
Jim Lazeratin, Priory Fine Pastries general manager, said the bakeries cookie trays are by far the most popular holiday item sold. The small trays sell for $35 for four dozen, and a large tray is $70 for nine dozen. Lazeratin said Yule Logs are also a popular item, which are made using yellow cake and the customer’s choice of filling and topped with traditional meringue mushrooms.

This time of year is one of the busiest at the bakery, and Lazeratin asked customers to get orders in as soon as possible to receive their sweets by the holidays.