I have a long list of standard Chicago experiences handy for when out-of-town guests visit: shopping on the
Magnificent Mile,
Giordano's deep dish pizza, the Ferris wheel at
Navy Pier, the observation deck of the Sears Tower, and
a good burlesque show. After this weekend, I'm adding a mandatory stop at the
Bleeding Heart Bakery to that list.
That's right: a post about a bakery. Strap in, you guys, this is going to be a long one.
The Bleeding Heart Bakery is an organic bakery offering vegan and gluten-free treats. Usually, that would turn me off. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to dessert. Give me butter, cream, and sugar or give me death. On the other hand, I've never met a pastry I didn't like so I withheld my judgements and faced the unknown with an open mind and an open stomach. I can summarize my findings with one word: yum.
BHB is more punk rock than crunchy granola hippie- the whole bakery is painted in Sex Pistol-approved neon. Not everything at the BHB is gluten-free and vegan friendly so their are options for even the most stubborn carnivore. In fact, the variety of treats is enormous (borderline Caligula-esque). The cupcake flavors even change monthly so there's no chance for boredom (this month's offerings include dulce de leche, Mexican hot chocolate, tamarind lime, horchata, mango chile, Thanksgiving, peanut butter cup, and Day of the Dead).
Each month also features a charity cupcake- a delicious way to give to a good cause. I sampled this month's Red Velvet cupcake with the proceeds going to the
Chicago Woman's Health Center. The cream cheese frosting was so amazing that I hear the Vatican is trying to get added on to the Seven Deadly Sins list. True story.*
Another thing I love about the Bleeding Heart Bakery: the cake balls. They look like Munchkins so at first I was all "whatever" when I saw them. Don't get me wrong, I love Munchkins- I spent several years in Boston where Munchkins are pretty much a food group- but I can get those for $.10 a piece. I don't need to pay fancy bakery prices for Munchkins. I was wrong. Cake balls are NOTHING like Munchkins. They are incredible! They are like a cake truffle with a thin, crisp shell and a dense almost melty cake inside. Oh boy. So good. I've been reduced to writing in only phrases at the very thought of them. Yum. Yum.
BHB makes cakes too! There cakes are more famous than you are. Perhaps you've seen co-owner Michelle Garcia on a little show called 'Extreme Cakes' on the Food Network? Oh yeah, she's got medals. They display dummy reproductions of their winning cakes above the bakery door.
Please come out with a cookbook! I need to steal all your tasty, punk rock cupcake recipes!
Bleeding Heart Bakery1955 W. Belmont, Chicago
773.327.6934
info@thebleedingheartbakery.com
*Okay, maybe that's not true but I can attest to the cream cheese frosting being way more sinful than at least 'Wrath' and 'Sloth'.
Can you handle this ridiculousness?! Check out the goodies that I'm bringing to a 'Twilight' screening tonight to prepare for tomorrow's 'New Moon' outing (squeal!): pretty sweet, huh?
Real talk: hers is way more awesome than the Balmain thanks to the candy-apple, loud red color. I'm sort of surprised that Balmain made theirs in boring black. If "crystal-embellished" is part of the jackets' title, you might as well go all the way. It would be like if 'Dancing with the Stars' decided that you could only have fringe OR rhinestones OR burn-your-retinas colors in a single costume. No fun and no bedazzled, hot pink fringed mini dresses for anyone. 
Anyways, Jane from Sea of Shoes also has an amazing red marching band jacket (although I'm pretty sure I could say that about any item of clotihng in the universe- girl has a closet that shames Anna Wintour's). Hers is last season's Rugby and it's probably a good thing we aren't best friends: if she ever lent me this jacket I'd either steal it or return it with drool all over it from sleeping in it because I'd love it too much to take off at night.
There are some jobs that are so specific and specialized that they seem impossible to get. Just how does one interview for nail polish-namer? Does Hershey's search Monster for uploaded resumes when finding a new chocolate taste tester? How many years experience do you need to be a roller coaster tester? Add to that list Disney Princess. 
Margaret Kerry worked as the live model for Tinkerbell and spent most of her work week prancing around a sound stage with gigantic props pantomiming fairy movements (where do I sign up?) including the famous scene where Tink gets stuck in a jewelry box. 
Helene Stanley was the model for Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty and Anita from 101 Dalmatians. The video below shows her twirling about in a studio while several animators furiously sketch her movements. 
Like the Loch Ness Monster, Chupacabra, and the Kardashian sisters' fame, some things just defy explanation. I don't have a reasonable explanation for it, but I really really really want a pair of velvet skinny pants. They're totally rock star worthy and unbelievably cool. Perhaps they'd only be Saturday night and New Year's Eve pants, but I'm still putting them on my Christmas list!
These lovely Twitter thigh highs are one way to get new followers!* 
I have a long list of standard Chicago experiences handy for when out-of-town guests visit: shopping on the Magnificent Mile, Giordano's deep dish pizza, the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier, the observation deck of the Sears Tower, and a good burlesque show. After this weekend, I'm adding a mandatory stop at the Bleeding Heart Bakery to that list. 
The Bleeding Heart Bakery is an organic bakery offering vegan and gluten-free treats. Usually, that would turn me off. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to dessert. Give me butter, cream, and sugar or give me death. On the other hand, I've never met a pastry I didn't like so I withheld my judgements and faced the unknown with an open mind and an open stomach. I can summarize my findings with one word: yum. 
BHB is more punk rock than crunchy granola hippie- the whole bakery is painted in Sex Pistol-approved neon. Not everything at the BHB is gluten-free and vegan friendly so their are options for even the most stubborn carnivore. In fact, the variety of treats is enormous (borderline Caligula-esque). The cupcake flavors even change monthly so there's no chance for boredom (this month's offerings include dulce de leche, Mexican hot chocolate, tamarind lime, horchata, mango chile, Thanksgiving, peanut butter cup, and Day of the Dead). 
Another thing I love about the Bleeding Heart Bakery: the cake balls. They look like Munchkins so at first I was all "whatever" when I saw them. Don't get me wrong, I love Munchkins- I spent several years in Boston where Munchkins are pretty much a food group- but I can get those for $.10 a piece. I don't need to pay fancy bakery prices for Munchkins. I was wrong. Cake balls are NOTHING like Munchkins. They are incredible! They are like a cake truffle with a thin, crisp shell and a dense almost melty cake inside. Oh boy. So good. I've been reduced to writing in only phrases at the very thought of them. Yum. Yum. 
BHB makes cakes too! There cakes are more famous than you are. Perhaps you've seen co-owner Michelle Garcia on a little show called 'Extreme Cakes' on the Food Network? Oh yeah, she's got medals. They display dummy reproductions of their winning cakes above the bakery door. 
Bleeding Heart Bakery
I'm in love with London illustrator Kate Wilson's fat-faced finches. 
