Delightful Pastries is a Delicious Addition to Chicago’s Old Town Area

I recently posted a column on a new walking tour of Chicago’s historic Old Town neighborhood. After finishing the column, I decided to venture back to Old Town and revisit some of my favorite haunts. Old Town is also one of the more beautiful parts of Chicago, reminiscent of a quaint European town, with its historic homes and cobblestone streets and flowering trees that make a walk on a spring day all the more enjoyable.

Much to my surprise I stumbled upon a new addition to Old Town’s storefront: a charming, European-inspired bakery called Delightful Pastries.

Delightful Pastries (1710 N. Wells St.; map it) is located where the former Breadsmith shop was, which reigned in Old Town as one of the best places for fresh breads and baked goods. While I was sad to see Breadsmith leave Old Town and I am glad to see that Delightful Pastries has the potential to be just as good.

From my culinary investigations, I discovered that Delightful Pastries makes it owns pastries, quiches, breads, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and even gluten-free macaroons. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, top-selling menu items include the Eggs Benedict with made-to-order hollandaise sauce; an almond croissant stuffed with mascarpone cheese; chicken pot pie; and daily quiches and tarts, including a spinach, leek, and Gruyere cheese tart that is worth returning for. Same goes for the passion fruit tart topped with huge pieces of fresh fruit. All of the ingredients used in Delight Pastries’ dishes and baked goods are locally-sourced and are preservative-free.

Delightful Pastries also makes its own chocolates (most of which are vegan), including a hazelnut praline truffle with Swiss chocolate (not vegan but still incredibly delicious).

Bread wise, I saw in the bakery case loaves of zucchini bread. I will have to write to the owner and see if they can also make chocolate-chip pumpkin bread like the Breadsmith did. Then my heart will be won over.

For more information, go to www.delightfulpastries.com or call 773-545-7215. Tip: Delightful Pastries can custom make cakes for birthdays and other celebrations and can also make large quantities of any of its pastries and chocolates, which would make for great Mother’s Day presents.

Photo credit: SXC