Ever walk into a store or restaurant and instantly realize, before even looking at the menu or sampling any goods, that you’ve entered a place you should have long ago visited. Feel like you’ve made a mistake waiting that long to patronize a certain establishment?
That happened to me over the weekend when, on the way to take the GF to work, we decided to swing through Bridgeport and stop at Fat Apple Bakery.
Someone was itching for a cupcake, and I thought I’d get her something a bit fancier than the run-of-the-mill grocery store variety cupcake. Not that there’s anything wrong with say Riesbeck’s or Kroger’s bakery departments. Given Lent is rapidly approaching, I’m sure I’ll be making multiple paczki runs down the road to Riesbeck’s here shortly.
But we wanted something different with a bit more pizzazz in its creation. Blame watching an episode of MasterChef Junior the other night and salivating at some of the impressive creations the contestants were making during a cupcake challenge.
Can I do that? That’s a major no. If you’ve read any of my Fat Man Cookith pieces, you’ll know my “cuisine” is about functional. It’s certainly not gourmet.
But that’s just what we experienced at Fat Apple, incredibly crafted cupcakes of which the care taking during the baking process was equaled by the creativity during the decorating portion.
We got two different types of cupcakes. Okay, to be specific, she got two different kinds, and I took a nibble of each. One had a creamy raspberry filling two it and both were top notch.
I’d recommend Fat Apple if for no other reason than the cupcakes. Incredible flavor and variety. That being said …
It Keeps Going and Going and …
Located at 225 Main St. in Bridgeport, Fat Apple Bakery is housed inside the former Bridgeport Eagles building. I remember it well. My parents were members back in the 1980s and 90s and took me in on multiple occasions. I remember playing standing shuffleboard or darts in the back, sipping my soda whilst they socialized and played the tip boards.
This was my first-time walking into the building post-Eagles, so I was taken aback at home much of the space Fat Apple uses. It certainly is making use of every inch of floor space.
Let’s just say the display floor, as well as the bakery counters, are massive, encompassing multiple rooms. The space in use is equaled only by the variety of items offered.
It’s a bakery, so naturally there are cupcakes, candies, cakes, pepperoni rolls, nut rolls, turnovers. You name it, it’s probably available. Cakes can be custom ordered as well and many a bride has visited Fat Apple to order her custom bridal cake for her big day.
But in addition to the handcrafted goodies, Fat Apple also offers numerous packaged candies, some well-known, others more specialized and targeted to specific audiences. There are also vintage candies and a few international options.
Walking through the back of the display floor, you’ll find vintage games and toys.
As soon as we walked in, and I was able to take in just how big the store was and what all it offered, I immediately felt like I cheated myself waiting until after Christmas to stop by.
Safe to say, I won’t be making that mistake for Valentine’s Day, or Easter, or Halloween, or etc., etc. In fact, I’ll be heading down later this week to sample some of the pepperoni rolls. Being a native West Virginian, we take our pepperoni rolls seriously and I’m curious to see how they stack up compared to other top options in the Upper Ohio Valley.
Suffice to say, if you have a sweet tooth, this is one stop you have to make. Or, if you don’t have a sweet tooth, now is as good of a time as any to develop one.
