While walking the Freedom Trail with my fiance, we stopped to have lunch at Florentine Cafe. Having eaten pasta and some bread, dessert did not seem a likely option. However, as we were walking through the North End of Boston, we noticed the sign for Mike’s Pastry and could not pass on the indulgence of a treat.

As is typical of this bakery, there was a decent-sized crowd in line to purchase pastries. Seeing an open table, we decided to have a seat and enjoy our baked goods inside the bakery. Of course, before we could enjoy some decadent dessert, we would need to decide what each of us wanted, which is no easy feat!

Each of us took a turn squeezing through the crowd to view the huge assortment of baked goods. Among our choices were cheesecake, carrot cake, cookies, biscotti, cannoli, tiramisu, and gelato, to name just a few. With neither of us being big fans of chocolate, some of our choices were eliminated. Being in an Italian bakery, we decided to stick with traditional Italian treats and chose a cannoli and a piece of cheesecake.

However, ordering a cannoli has options also. There are different fillings, different ways of making the pastry, and plain or chocolate-covered cannoli. We asked our waitress about the Florentine cannoli, and when we heard her answer (honey and nuts added to the shell), knew exactly which cannoli we wanted.

Our pastries and beverages arrived in a very timely fashion for such a busy place. I had ordered a cappuccino, and my fiance had an espresso. Both were garnished with a sugar-coated stirrer and were hot and tasty. The pastries were exceptional. The Florentine cannoli was the best cannoli I have eaten, ever. The addition of honey and nuts to the shell made for a sweet, crunchy pastry. The filling was creamy and perfectly sweet. The cheesecake was topped with a strawberry glaze and had a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

As we sat at our table, savoring our hot beverages and incredible desserts, we noticed that the line for purchasing baked good had grown even longer. Obviously, Mike’s Pastry is known for its treats, and we can vouch for them now. If you are in the Boston area, it is well worth the drive to Mike’s (and the wait in line) for some of the best pastries you ever will have.

While on vacation in Maryland, we headed up to Delaware to check out the Natural History Museum. The museum was a hit on a chilly rainy day. Leaving the museum was an unpleasant end to the trip, as the miserable weather brought a chill to me. To bring some warmth back, a cup of coffee seemed like a great idea.

Driving on the Kennett Pike, neither my fiance or I were familiar with the area, so we searched roadside malls for a coffee shop. Luckily, we saw PureBread Deli. Entering the deli, I noticed a large menu posted above a counter that contained a variety of baked goods. All looked quite delicious.

Having eaten lunch only 3 hours earlier, there was no need to sample their Best-in-Show (signature sandwiches) or a bagel creation, such as the Doberman. With two of the four kids with us, I did need to bring a treat for them.

Viewing the bakery case, a fudgy chocolate brownie seemed to be the best bet. The brownies were enormous; each brownie was equal to two servings. The children said that they were delicious!

As for the adults, I ordered a large coffee for each of us. At the coffee counter, there were more than a dozen coffees from which to choose. I got butter pecan for me and vanilla nut for my dear. Both of us decided that the coffees were deliciously flavored.

Beyond enjoying the tastes of our snack and drinks, I also enjoyed the prices. For 1 huge brownie and 2 large coffees, I paid only 5 dollars. Yep, you read that correctly, $5.00!

Unfortunately, today was our last day on vacation. I am eager to return to this area - not only for a vacation but to try more of PureBread’s menu.

Last month I attended the Boston Wine Expo. Although I loved trying wines from different vineyards around the world, I loved visiting the food vendors just as much. One vendor of particular note was Sweet Santangelo’s, which is located in Woburn, Massachusetts.

As I browsed the food vendors, Sweet Santangelo’s made an exceptional impression. Based on sight alone, I needed to sample some of these treats. After trying two pastries I could attest that not only did they have a beautiful display of baked goods, but that these treats made from family recipes were delicious.

The two goodies that I nibbled were very different. Auntie Rosie’s Anise Frosted were perfectly sweet and tender. They would make a wonderful dessert with a cup of coffee or tea. The other pastry I enjoyed was the Parmesan-Rosemary Biscotti. This crunchy baked good was savory and would complement a salad or cup of soup quite nicely.

Recently, I contacted Mary Ellen Santangelo, who with husband Ray runs this bakery. She shared the following information with me:

How old is your company?

We started the business in September 2006.

You currently have 15 different pastries. How many did you have when you first started? Do you plan on adding more items?

We had 13 different cookies when we started and added two more for the wine show, our Ray’s Chocolate Brownie cookie and our Parmesan-Rosemary Biscotti. We also offer a cherry-walnut holiday cake, banana bread cake and Irish soda bread. I have many more family recipes, which I plan to gradually introduce. We want to offer our customers the sweets they enjoy. We have many favorites, such as our Auntie Rosie’s Anise Frosted, our Sweetheart Linzers and our Macaroons.

I noticed that you sell items at a local farm and will ship to customers in Massachusetts. Will you be expanding your delivery area in the near future?

We deliver locally and ship regionally. We are in the beginning stages of shipping nation-wide and also finding a store-front cafe which we can offer our baked goods in an intimate Italian setting.

If you are looking for delectable, homemade baked goods, visit Sweet Santangelo’s. Their pastries are some of the best I have had.