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March 23, 2015

Cakes are made to be celebrated.

By Jennifer Matten Bandes by Sweet Street, blog, Cakes To Be Celebrated, Chocolate Desserts Comments Off

What is it about cake that seems to make it synonymous with celebration? The modern tradition of enjoying cake on birthdays is believed to have originated in Germany during the 1,400’s. And brides and grooms have celebrated with cake on their wedding day for at least as long. It makes perfect sense when you think about it. The sweet, baked goodie is a festive treat that can put a smile on anyone’s face. And its common “sheet” preparation method is ideal for sharing among large gatherings of people. Of course, the appreciation of cake goes far beyond these traditional celebrations. According to Technomic, cake is the most frequently menued type of baked dessert at the Top 500 full-service restaurants. As you might expect, chocolate leads the charge. Technomic research shows that 62% of consumers would happily order chocolate cake for dessert. But that’s only the beginning of the sweet possibilities. Sweet Street offers a variety of luscious desserts that celebrate the joys of cake. Our newest dessert line, Bandes, is offered in the traditional sheet-cake format—with flexible slicing options to meet a variety of price points and serving occasions. The decadent choices include our tropically enticing Caramelized Pineapple Coconut Bande and the contemporary appeal of our Strawberry Vanilla Bean Basil Bande. Even those who have eliminated gluten from their diets can get in on the lusciousness with our Flourless Hazelnut Chocolate Bande. Traditional 9-in. round cakes are also available to delight dessert lovers. Our Salted Caramel Vanilla Crunch features layers of caramel and creamy custard, while our Four High Carrot Cake is layer upon layer of dark, moist carrot cake. And did we mention that chocolate is a popular cake choice as well? The Choc’late Lovin’ Spoon Cake® is our homage to this king of all dessert flavors, with a giant mouthful of chocolate pudding between two layers of dark, moist, chocolate-drenched chocolate cake.

A giant mouthful of chocolate pudding between two layers of dark, moist, chocolate-drenched chocolate cake.

The post Cakes are made to be celebrated. appeared first on Sweet Street Blog.

March 12, 2015

Welcome to Luscious

By Sandy Solmon About Sweet Street, blog, Stay Amazed~ Sandy Solmon Comments Off

[Editor’s note– We’ve been posting about our delectable desserts for ages, but it’s time we let you hear directly from our Founder and CEO, Sandy Solmon. Just as our products have long been distinctive in the world of desserts, Sandy is becoming a distinctive voice in the wider and wilder world of food. Stay tuned as Sandy shares her thoughts on flavor and taste, innovation, chocolate, sourcing, additives, and the secret of life.]

Back in the tumultuous early 1970s, in the quiet morning hour before dashing off to an assignment as a photojournalist in Berkeley, Californ

ia, I found almost mystical solace in making and serving my cinnamon swirled sour cream coffee cake. It was a touchstone then as it is now. My friends and I were young, footloose adventurers, but when we came together in my kitchen for much needed conversation and coffee, it was as if I’d brought ‘home’ to the table. Everything about that cake was grounding for me – the baking process, the aromas, the buttery crumb, and the way it reminded everyone of their grandmothers, only better. A few years later, in 1979, I founded Sweet Street Cookie Co., baking giant sharable cookies in a 2-bay garage and selling them in my little shop out of big glass jars. For me, this was a profoundly satisfying way to share my passion for all things delicious, and I like to think we’ve been making the world a sweeter place ever since, with our products now served in restaurants, cafes and hotels in 65 countries across the globe. I believe the pleasure we all get from sweet, luscious food should be honored with well-crafted treats made with honest ingredients and shared with people we love. Whether I’m mixing up a batch of nostalgia or pushing the boundaries of innovation, I have learned that desserts open doors, hearts, and conversations. Show up at a friend’s house with one of my desserts in hand and you’ll see what I mean.

The doors keep opening. As soon as the snow melts, we’ll fire up the motor on our Mobile Art Kitchen™ (M.A.K.™), an amazing phenomenon some might call a “food truck,” but we call it a collaboration of artists, videographers, chefs and bakers bringing American food to the streets of Paris and … Milan.

Yes, Milan. I’ll tell you more about our M.A.K. truck in a future post – and more than a few fantastic innovations – but it the meantime, we have some very big news: Sweet Street is joining the James Beard Foundation and other culinary illuminati in the USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015, where our desserts will be offered at Food Truck Nation. The Mobile Art Kitchen will be stationed on the streets of Milan to delight the locals, tourists and Expo visitors from May through October. Buon appetito!

Stay amazed,

P.S. I was so proud of the coffee cake I put my own name on it. The post Welcome to Luscious appeared first on Sweet Street Blog.

February 20, 2015

Ripe for the picking: explore decadent fruit desserts from Sweet Street

By Jennifer Matten Bandes by Sweet Street, blog, Fruit Desserts Comments Off

A leisurely stroll through the produce aisle at the grocery store is a sensory experience unlike any other. Bright colors. Fresh aromas. And the allure of flavors that range from tangy, to tart to sweet. That’s the refreshingly fundamental goodness of fruit. No wonder why fruits of all varieties are such a popular choice to feature in desserts. The fact is, in the hands of an inspired chef, zesty fruit flavors are dialed to the nines and bursting with freshness. And when paired with traditional dessert ingredients that are rich, creamy and buttery, the combination becomes simple irresistible. The appeal of desserts that include fruits and other “non chocolate” ingredients continues to grow, according to QSR Magazine. These innovative offerings can help give operators an edge through their dessert menu. With spring in the air, and a bounty of fresh fruits available for the picking, now is the perfect time to explore all of the luscious fruit desserts offered by Sweet Street. A great way to begin is with the tropical allure of our Caramelized Pineapple Coconut Bande. It features moist coconut cake cradling a layer of caramelized pineapple and salted caramel. Paradise found! And blackberry lovers will delight in our Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande, featuring the creamy tartness of Greek yogurt mousse ribboned with an intoxicating compote of sweet vine-ripened blackberries mellowed with California cabernet. The possibilities continue with our Peachberry Crumble, with a refreshing peach blueberry compote sitting atop a moist lemon semolina cake ribboned with tart lemon curd. And what exploration would be complete without perhaps the most iconic dessert fruit of them all: the strawberry. Our Strawberry Vanilla Bean Basil Bande is a delightful combination of crème brulée mousse, bright strawberry compote and an unexpected savory touch of our contemporary basil glaze.

Greek Yogurt Blackberry Bande

The post Ripe for the picking: explore decadent fruit desserts from Sweet Street appeared first on Sweet Street Blog.

January 22, 2015

Sweet Street takes caramel to a whole new level of cravable.

By Jennifer Matten blog, Caramel Desserts, Salted Caramel Desserts Comments Off

The debate over how to pronounce caramel may rage on forever. Is it CAR-mull? Or CARE-uh-mell? Either way, one thing’s for sure: caramel is a hugely popular treat that mixes perfectly into a host of decadent dessert possibilities. To fully appreciate the magic of caramel, let’s start with a brief chemistry lesson. According to Wikipedia, the process of caramelization consists of heating sugar slowly to around 340°F. This process removes water from the sugar and causes the molecules to break down. The sugar then reforms into a new compound with a characteristic color and flavor. Cooking the sugar at just the right temperature for just the right amount of time is critical in order to create the desired color and sweetness. At this point, science gives way to art. When you introduce additional flavors such as milk/cream, butter, chocolate, vanilla, salt, etc., you can create soft caramels or caramel sauce—aka the building blocks of sweet masterpieces. And the widespread appeal of caramel creations among dessert lovers is undeniable. Salted caramel in particular is mentioned as a flavor to watch in 2015, according to Restaurant Business. Sweet Street appreciates the gooey goodness of caramel too, and we’ve created enticing new ways to celebrate it. Our Salted Caramel Crunch Skillet Cookie is hand-mixed with browned butter, white chocolate, pretzel bites, sea salt and HEATH® toffee pieces for an amazing salty sweet experience. And a graham crumb crust makes the perfect host for the rich cheesecake and caramel flavors in our Salted Caramel Individual Cheesecake. We’ve also taken the appeal of salted caramel to our new line of Bandes. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch Bande is a sophisticated rendition of America’s favorite pairing—chocolate and peanut butter. Our Caramelized Pineapple Coconut Bande is a tropical temptation featuring layers of moist coconut cake, caramelized pineapple and salted caramel. Looking for even more ways to tempt patrons with exciting new twists on the dessert menu? Check out our new line of savory desserts featuring handcrafted pretzels.

Salted Caramel Crunch Skillet Cookie is hand-mixed with browned butter, white chocolate, pretzel bites, sea salt and HEATH toffee pieces. With pretzel salt and demerara sugar atop, each bite is dangerously better than the last.

The post Sweet Street takes caramel to a whole new level of cravable. appeared first on Sweet Street Blog.

January 20, 2015

Bandes by Sweet Street offer handcrafted elegance in a simple, contemporary format.

By Jennifer Matten Bandes by Sweet Street, blog, Creative Dessert Flavors Comments Off

Today, customers are explorers looking for new combinations while treasuring the traditional. The newest dessert line from Sweet Street, Bandes, offer an excitingly versatile canvas to inspire your chef-d’oeuvre and for your guests and unfolding indulgent experience to be treasured. Every flavor profile passionately perfected and heightened with unexpected textures. Every Bande skillfully crafted for stunning presentation and operational ease. We have layered excitingly unexpected bold and contemporary flavors from strawberry vanilla bean accented with savory basil, to rich blackberry Greek yogurt complemented with California Cabernet while reinventing chocolate nostalgia with the deepest single-origin Peruvian chocolate. All pair with the textural delights of crunchy roasted and candied hazelnuts, a peanut butter crisp, moist cakes and chewy caramel for elegant simplicity your guests will crave. Uniquely crafted to inspire creativity, you can dress up these Bandes as a signature dessert reflective of your restaurant or plate as-is for a chic, distinctive indulgence to be enjoyed throughout the day. Flexible format to increase profitability and enhance usability. Slice to perfect to your restaurants desired price points and to offer an array of options adaptable for any occasion your guests may be celebrating. View our suggested cutting guide for an array of options. Bande of Beauties Brochure

Unique ingredients create memorable moments and on-trend flavor.

The post Bandes by Sweet Street offer handcrafted elegance in a simple, contemporary format. appeared first on Sweet Street Blog.

December 12, 2014

Sweet Street takes custard from throwback to thrilling.

By Jennifer Matten blog, Creative Dessert Flavors, Custard Desserts, Salted Caramel Desserts Comments Off

Custard is first found in ancient Roman Empire cookbooks, some say because it was the first time chickens were kept for laying eggs, and the abundance led to experimentation and ideas borrowed from the Greeks’ cooking knowledge. At its advent, custard was considered a health food, according to Platina’s De Honesta Voluptate, published in 1475. Medieval cooks appreciated its soft texture and simple ingredients (egg, milk and flavoring) for both health and “right pleasure.” A comfort food has emotional connections, providing “a nostalgic or sentimental feeling to the person eating it,” says Wikipedia. Custard is a comfort food that truly reflects its moniker, spooned by mothers to their children and given to many babies as their first solid food. ProChef SmartBrief reports from The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, “We all should embrace the joys and affections we have with our own personal favorites because they’re good for body and soul.” So imagine how exciting it is to take a traditional comfort food, already beloved, and turn it into an unexpected ingredient in fabulous desserts. Sweet Street has done so with custard, fully embracing the trend of “traditional with a twist.” Custard appears as a silken layer in Sweet Street’s Salted Caramel Vanilla Crunch Cake, offering drama between a salted caramel crunch layer and a sexy caramel finish in this craveable cake. Several of Sweet Street’s cheesecakes go refined, richer, yet lighter with crème brulée custard, luscious with egg yolks and fresh whipping cream, folded into the batter. This innovation is part of the appeal of Strawberry Brulée Cheesecake, Créme Brulée Cheese, Vanilla Bean Brulée Individual Cheese—each hand-fired for a chef-like finish—and Strawberry Cream Cheesecake, which combines bright, just-picked fruit with custard-infused cheesecake. Velvety cream custard is the center of Sweet Street’s beautiful cream puffs, the Puff Daddies of the industry. Our Chocolate Ganache Vanilla Cream Puff is a happening for the mouth—all flavor, texure and sensation. Filled with vanilla bean-infused custard cream and topped with milk chocolate ganache and crispy chocolate pearls, it’s irresistible. Our Salted Caramel Cream Puff is filled with caramelized sugar custard, topped with salted caramel and finished with a sprinkle of candied and salted, toasted almonds. Sweet Street has taken loveable custard to new levels, creating magnificent desserts sure to draw in customers seeking the comfort connection with a twist. Welcome to luscious.®

Salted caramel perfection! Crave upon crave. Our supernaturally light, but buttery, vanilla-flecked pudding cake holds waves of rich caramel cake. Drama builds with a salted caramel crunch layer, a creamy custard layer and a sexy caramel finish.

The post Sweet Street takes custard from throwback to thrilling. appeared first on Sweet Street Blog.

November 24, 2014

Creativity drives excitement on the dessert menu

By Jennifer Matten Bar and Tavern Desserts, blog, Creative Dessert Flavors, Salted Caramel Desserts Comments Off

Today’s consumers are foodies. They like traditional desserts, but they love “traditional with a twist.” They like the flavors that harken back to childhood, but they adore an unexpected ingredient that introduces a new flavor or texture. They like a dessert they know will be good, but they revel in a surprise. “They know more about food than consumers ever did in the past. They are more adventurous, millennials particularly,” says Laura McGuire, senior manager of Technomic, Inc. In the exacting and exuberant process of developing our desserts, Sweet Street has earned 15 patents in design. Our R&D staff, led by founder and CEO Sandy Solmon, puts together creative concepts every day, the best of which turn into innovative flavor and texture combinations. While many are familiar with the Chocolate Molten Cake that has been a favorite for a couple of years, the Turtle Molten Bundt Cake from Sweet Street puts a pecan-covered twist on it. Modeled after the popular candy, it’s filled with a buttery-luscious caramel center that oozes deliciously when warmed. Our Sweet & Salty Blondie Bites, stuffed with both butterscotch and chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut, are set apart with an unexpected ingredient—old-fashioned, kettle-fried potato chips—for a uniquely textured craveable. The one-inch square size of all four Sweet Street Bites are making exciting inroads as snacks in bars, garnish on ice cream, adorable skewered desserts and other sharable indulgences. Salted caramel is a beautiful flavor that has come into its own in the past couple of years. Sweet Street has employed its popularity in our Salted Caramel Vanilla Crunch Cake that has a salted caramel crunch layer, a creamy custard layer and a sexy caramel finish, a creative combination of textures. Salted caramel has proven so popular, we’ve used it to make extremely tempting bruléed cheesecake, cheesecake individuals, cupcakes and cream puffs that have excited the marketplace. Our recently debuted collection of Cheesecake Individuals introduced new ingredients and flavor combos, including Yuzu Lime, Goat Cheese with Thyme Honey and Blackberry Cabernet. Blackberry is the flavor of the year according to flavor predictor Firmenich, and it mixes wonderfully with a fruity, floral California Cabernet for a wine and cheese tasting in one personal, yet sharable dessert.

Salted caramel perfection realized with a salted caramel crunch layer, a creamy custard layer and sexy caramel finish.

The post Creativity drives excitement on the dessert menu appeared first on Sweet Street Blog.

Cakes are made to be celebrated.

Welcome to Luscious

Stay amazed,

Ripe for the picking: explore decadent fruit desserts from Sweet Street

Sweet Street takes caramel to a whole new level of cravable.

Bandes by Sweet Street offer handcrafted elegance in a simple, contemporary format.

Sweet Street takes custard from throwback to thrilling.

Creativity drives excitement on the dessert menu

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