Mardi Gras Treats at West Side Bakery

King Cakes from The West Side Bakery.  Photo used with permission.

Mardi Gras Treats at The West Side Bakery
by Joanna Wilson

It's Mardi Gras in Akron--a time for decadence before you vow to give it all up for Lent.  While I'm not exactly promising to abstain from sugar anytime soon, I do look forward to the seasonal sweet treats that accompany Mardi Gras.  This year, I ordered my king cake from The West Side Bakery in Pilgrim Square, on West Market Street.

King cakes are a New Orleans tradition that originated in France.  It is a cinnamon braided pastry bread topped with icing and sugar crystals in the colors of the Mardi Gras celebration: yellow, green and purple.  King cakes from The West Side Bakery also include two strands of plastic beads--the sort one acquires along the New Orleans parade route--and a miniature plastic baby that you can hide within the cake yourself.  Tradition has it that whoever finds the baby in their slice of cake will receive good luck in the upcoming year.

Beignets at The West Side Bakery.  Photo used with permission.

This year while at the bakery, I also picked up another New Orleans tradition, beignets-- deep fried dough covered in powdered sugar.  It reminds me of an adult donut and the perfect compliment to coffee.  The West Side Bakery also has Mardi Gras decorated cookies--the perfect seasonal treat for the kids.

Mardi Gras cookies at The West Side Bakery.  Photo used with permission.

If you're interested in indulging yourself, you better act quickly.  These special Mardi Gras treats are only available for a limited time--through today and tomorrow (Monday March 3rd and Tuesday March 4th).  Call to place your order.

West Side Bakery is located in Pilgrim Square at 2303 West Market Street, Akron OH 44313
(330) 836-4101
They have a second location in Green at 1840 Town Park Blvd in Uniontown OH 44685
(330) 899-9968
or check them out online at http://thewestsidebakery.com
or on facebook: The West Side Bakery