427049 Wed Aug 01 19:27:32 -0700 2007 13 10 Florida 0 2805536 I'm looking for a good independent bakery (i.e. artisan breads, pastries, cakes, pies) in the Orlando area (south, even to Kissimmee) would be best, but anywhere in the Orlando metro area would be okay. I'm so sick of Panera Bread being the only bakery around. Anyone know of any? Wed Aug 01 19:27:32 -0700 2007 116135 wellser 1 2805544 You definitely want to check out the Dessert Lady on South Kirkman in Orlando. Amazing cakes, truly outstanding. Not cheap, but well worth it. http://www.dessertlady.com/ For breads, try Old Hearth Bakery on 436 and Red Bug Lake Road in Casselberry. Wed Aug 01 19:32:48 -0700 2007 2805536 14120 Big Bad Voodoo Lou 2 2805569 I've heard Dessert Lady several times, but also heard the *RUMOR* that she uses Duncan Hines cake mixes (except for with her carrot cake)... anyone know if there is any truth in this? Not that it matters much, I guess, if the desserts are as delicious as everyone says... But still I wouldn't want to pay that much for a box cake mix... But then again, someone could give me the finest tools in the world and I wouldn't be able to fix a car, so perhaps--even if she does use box mix--it is her skill shining through that makes them delicious. I'll definitely go check out Old Hearth Bakery... Wed Aug 01 19:46:29 -0700 2007 2805544 116135 wellser 3 2805638 I know her and her products well. That speculation wouold be a surprise. Why not call her at the restaurant and ask her? Bob Wed Aug 01 20:16:20 -0700 2007 2805569 11157 Bob Mervine 3 3930436 Ouch. I can vouch for the "homemade-ness" of all of the Dessert Lady's desserts. The nearest Duncan Hines products in the vicinity of the Dessert Lady bakery are in the Publix across the street. But if you doubt and are frank enough to do so, give either one of her places a call and ask... Mon Aug 04 20:42:37 -0700 2008 2805569 216020 ajone107 1 2806660 I've always liked Charlie's Gourmet Pasteries on Curry Ford in the Conway area. Thu Aug 02 08:10:45 -0700 2007 2805536 19537 AlyKen 1 2806728 I wouldn't be shocked if The Dessert Lady uses mixes. I think her cakes look better than they taste. You may want to try Bruno's, an excellent French bakery in Sanford. Ballard and Corum (or something like that) in Winter Park's Hannibal Square, or Bake Me a Cake in Maitland, are also independents. Thu Aug 02 08:24:51 -0700 2007 2805536 15729 rudykins 2 2806773 We have a very good one here on the mountain(Mount Dora). The Sunshine Mountain Bakery. It is on third avenue towards the lake. Homemade sourdough, multigrain and butter split breads along with Fresh breakfeast paistries,doughnuts,cookies. This place is almost a 24hr operation! And VERY fresh! There is another one in Eustis called Our fathers Bread but I still need to try it. Thu Aug 02 08:33:53 -0700 2007 2806728 27014 mountdorahound 2 2809933 I don't know the other two that Rudykins mentioned, but I can second Bruno's in Sanford and Charlie's as well. Bob Fri Aug 03 04:45:16 -0700 2007 2806728 11157 Bob Mervine 3 3011701 Ballard & Corum is a pretty good tiny bakery in Winter Park, located right near Dexter's and Chez Vincent (across the street from one and next to the other). It's the kind of local hole-in-the-wall bakery that used to be common even when I was a kid in the '80s, but has disappeared as chains and supermarkets have gained prevalence. They offer tremendous cupcakes, great cookies, mind-blowing lemon bars, and very fancy cakes for special occasions. It's a bit of a "hipster" place, as the girls icing the cupcakes reminded me of Maggie Gyllenhaal's cute, tattooed, semi-anarchist baker character from the movie Stranger Than Fiction. But there is a bar next door that occasionally has live music, so the place would be a great stop if you're leaving one of the nearby restaurants or getting out of work in the Winter Park area. Sun Oct 07 00:11:07 -0700 2007 2809933 14120 Big Bad Voodoo Lou 1 2811156 The Lemon meringue pie at Charlie's is VERY good,as is their mince pie during the holidays, I drive all the way from Apopka for both. Fri Aug 03 11:34:08 -0700 2007 2805536 89203 jword2001 1 3009571 MAGICAL little german bakery. Worth the drive. Out in the middle of nowhere in an adorable stand alone building that looks like it was plucked right out of the Black Forest. Every Sat morn they have live music on the back patio. Get there early, get some pastries and get a seat! www.yalahabakery.com Fri Oct 05 19:19:59 -0700 2007 2805536 34424 martie 2 3928722 Oh yes, Yalaha Bakery, yummy! I first heard about them a few years ago on the Food Network show "Food Finds" while I was living in Tulsa, OK. I was so happy when I moved to Orlando and realized I could finally go try it out. It's a nice drive on the weekend. Mon Aug 04 10:45:33 -0700 2008 3009571 170619 voyageurdemonde 1 3928735 There's a great new French bakery in Winter Garden. sweettraditionsbakery.com. Everything is made by hand. Mon Aug 04 10:49:47 -0700 2008 2805536 15729 rudykins