Monday, August 24, 2009

Savor Peaches as Summer Draws to a Close

The best part of summer is the availability of fresh fruit. Going to the Farmer's Market is a great way to develop meal, snack, and dessert ideas. Before I plan a dinner party, I like to go to the market to see what is fresh.

Having too much of one product is a wonderful problem to have. The mind reels, deciding how to incorporate it into all of your favorite dishes.



Right now, peaches are a hit at the market. This year at TONI, we've made Peach Crumb Coffee Cakes, our requisite Peach Pie, and we've added peaches to our Cherry Galettes for a limited time only. Galettes are available in the store daily and on Mondays at the Hinsdale Farmer's Market. Filling flavors will vary, call ahead to find out what we are baking.

Enjoy peaches baked in your favorite sweets, stewed in a compote, or fresh out of your hand, like this little girl. Just make sure to get them while they last!

15 Years and a New Name

It is hard to believe that it's been 15 years since we opened Toni Marie's Sweets & Savories here in Hinsdale. Our success has been the result of the incredibly supportive Hinsdale community, other patrons willing to travel surprising distances, and especially the hard work of our extremely talented and dedicated staff.



After 15 years we felt it was time to freshen up our image and have a more contemporary brand. In this effort we decided to simplify our name. We have dropped my middle name, Marie, redesigned our logo, changed the outdoor sign, and are in the process of updating our packaging and taking on a new look inside the store.

By doing this, we believe that our fresh new image will reflect the distinctive quality of our products. Delicious pastries, savory lunch options, desserts and our custom cakes are made right here at TONI.

My name is Toni, but the word Toni also has a meaning. Elegant, exclusive, and high-quality are all words to describe the word Toni, and we believe they are all words to describe our products as well. We use high-quality ingredients including Belgian chocolate, European-style butter, and the freshest seasonal fruits. All of our products are made from scratch and we do not use preservatives.

We hope you will stop by as the process unfolds and let us know how you like the new changes! We are convinced you will love the new look as much as we do!

Friday, August 14, 2009

Groom’s Cake Trend Blog

The newest trend we’ve seen at Toni is the addition of Groom’s cakes to the traditional tiered wedding cake.

Whether it’s the bride wanting to surprise her fiancĂ©, the couple wanting two cakes with different flavors in each, or a fun cake to be served on the night of the rehearsal dinner, Groom’s cakes have increased in popularity each year.

The biggest surge in groom’s cakes within the past two years has been shaped cakes. Inspiration has come from movies, jobs, hobbies, or just something that shows off the groom’s personality.

Below are some of the shaped-groom’s cakes that Toni has created:

Monday, August 10, 2009

From Paint Chip to Cake Creation

When brides come in to Toni to plan their wedding cake, some have an exact idea in mind of what they want, and some need inspiration. Of course, your wedding cake should taste as good as it looks!

This bride chose a vanilla sponge, with our luscious cheesecake and raspberry preserves as her filling. Classic ivory fondant frosting finished the cake, but it was the unique decoration that set her cake apart, as much as its distinctive Toni flavor:



Hi, Jeannie!

Mark and I wanted to express our sincere appreciation to you and the entire staff at Toni Marie's Sweets and Savories for making our wedding cake not just special but spectacular!! It is completely amazing to us that a little tiny picture from a book with a paint swatch from Lowe's turned into a cake that I am still receiving compliments on from our guests! And, I have never tasted a cake so good - it was definitely a huge hit....even my friends who could not attend, when they see the pictures of the cake taken at Morton's along with the florals that Allison created and our comical topper, they love it!

Thank you again for everything!!
-Leslie