Elmwood Home Bakery = Supergood

If you’re one of those gluten free people, stop reading now. What follows may make you weep.

Otherwise, take a walk down Madison, one block west of Malley’s. Right across Elmwood, check out the Elmwood Home Bakery. It’s been in same location for over 60 years. How do I know? Well without giving away my age, let’s just say that one of the grandest snacks this former 5-year-old kid could savor was, and is, a slice of buttercrust bread from the Elmwood Home Bakery, topped with a smear of cold butter. If your mom just brought it home and opened the bag in your kitchen, you can bet that the whole room is going to smell like she baked it herself. Then you’ve got to decide: which part will you eat first: the buttery crust, or the mellow middle. That great smell comes from a hint of yeast and fermentation. Actually, whether you’re 5 years old or 55, the whole darn thing tastes good. And guess what: considering the alternatives, it’s probably a pretty healthy snack. And wait 'til you try it for a sandwich. Lunch box delight! That one's not going into the cafeteria trash bin.

So if you’ve passed the gluten hurdle, and you’re one of those people who realize that life without a little bit of sugar now and then is just not fun, we can talk about all those things you’ll see in the bakery case. Let’s start with my favorite pastry: cherry squares. Or do I like apple squares better? Either way, you’ll be eating yummy fruit with a lattice topping and sugar crumbs. Do they make cakes? Let's just say that Elmwood bakery made a spectacular date-nut cake for my wedding (in 1971) topped with white buttercream icing. You  don’t need to wait for a wedding to enjoy that one - it’s available every day the store is open.

You’re probably pretty hungry by now, so get on over to the Elmwood Home Bakery and tell owner Andy Rerko that one of the Harsanys sent you. And tell him we miss the penny gum machine.

Kathy Harsany is a 1964 graduate of LHS, retired mostly but hey you never know, former economist at FRB, Citibank and Equitable Life; teacher of the visually impaired, decorative artist etc etc hobbies = beekeeper, dahlia grower, quilter, swimmer, hiker, baker, dog and cat owner, sister to two other amazing LHS grads and last but not least, Cleveland Indians fan.

Kathy Harsany

LHS 1964 business = retired mostly but hey you never know former economist at FRB, Citibank and Equitable Life; teacher of the visually impaired, decorative artist etc etc hobbies = beekeeper, dahlia grower, quilter, swimmer, hiker, baker, dog and cat owner, sister to two other amazing LHS grads and last but not least Cleveland Indians fan

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Volume 13, Issue 8, Posted 10:01 PM, 04.18.2017