First Pics: Vanilya bakery opens at 1611 E. Passyunk Ave.
The long-awaited Vanilya Bakery has finally opened at 1611 E. Passyunk Ave. in place of the former La Piu Bella bridal shop.
Way back in October 2012, we reported that a bakery would be coming to this space, and lo and behold, owner Bonnie Sarana Noll pulled the paper off the windows last week on her shop. It is a special-occasion bakery (wedding cakes, birthday cakes, more) that also will sell individual desserts like cookies, tiramisu, chocolate mousse, cheesecake and two or three kinds of cupcakes with a flavor of the day.
Bonnie, a Brooklyn native who was trained as a pastry chef at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., says the name Vanilya is Turkish for vanilla, her favorite ingredient.
She chose East Passyunk for her shop’s location because the businesses are growing, and it reminds her of where she grew up.
“The avenue has so much energy,” she said. “I hope to bring something new and different to the avenue.”
Other desserts include flourless chocolate cake, panacotta and tapioca. Hours for the retail side of the bakery are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Appointments for specialty-cake consultations can be made any other day. Check out the website here for more information or to schedule a consultation.
Vanilya joins a resurgent wedding buzz on the avenue. Last year, the Beautiful Brides make-up shop opened next door, the Carolyn Verdi dress boutique opened about a block away and the Blow-Dry Boutique opened another block south.
– Ruthann Alexander, @RuthannAlexande
