This week, our Food Editor Rosalie Saferstein has a sweet tooth. She’s sampling some new bakeries, and introducing us to a specialty cake baker and new dessert cookbook. To top it all off, she’s got some exclusive news about a new Montclair eatery-- for our readers only!

Flour Power
You can pick from a garden of goodies at Flour Patch Bakery! (www.flourgirlbakery.com)

We had a scrumptious time licking the cream cheese frosting off the red velvet cupcakes at the Greenwood Avenue shop. For a mess free treat try the whimsical ice cream cone cupcakes. Recipes are nut free so this bakery is a wonderful venue for those with legume allergies.

My Little Cup Cake
Vegans can have their cake and eat it too as traditional and vegan cookies and cupcakes are featured at Sweet Avenue Bake Shop ( www.sweetavenuebakeshop.com) on Park Avenue in Rutherford.

Buy a dozen cupcakes ($21.45) and you’ll get one free. Try the simply delicious vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting or go the fancy route with a chocolate cupcake with marshmallow frosting topped with graham crackers and melted chocolate.

Custom Made
Now you don’t have to get married –or even have a special occasion, to bring home a one-of-a-kind cake from a leading pastry chef.

Donna Sardella, Executive Pastry Chef for Basilico Restaurant in Milburn has announced the opening of Cakes by Donna & Ola (917-836-9236.) and will create a special custom made cake starting at $500. Great for any occasion -- or non-occasion.

Do It Yourself
For do- it -yourselfers, New Jersey’s “queen of dessert cuisine,” Carole Walter, has a new book with a mouthful of a name: "Great Coffee Cakes, Sticky Buns, Muffins and More: 200 Anytime Treats and Special Sweets for Morning to Midnight. "

Grab your apron and baking pans, and pre-order the title on Amazon (www.amazon.com) or find it in your local bookstore after October 16th.

Breaking News
Fans of chef Zod Arifai will be thrilled to hear that he is opening a casual restaurant in a few months next to his “excellent” rated Blu (www.restaurantblu.com) on Bloomfield Avenue, in Montclair. Name undecided.

You can contact Rosie at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with other sweet thoughts and great suggestions!