It seems you can't live in Hoboken without answering this question.
Having lived in Hoboken for eleven years, we met Buddy Valastro before he was "The Cake Boss". We remember when Carlo's Bakery was a great place to grab a wonderful cup of coffee on the way to the PATH train. Now Hobokenites must make their way through the throngs of people in line to meet Hoboken's latest celebrity in an effort to make our trains on time. And more power to Buddy. After all, he has taken his family-owned bakery and turned it into a multi-million dollar media empire. He has also helped to put Hoboken on the map for the millions of viewers of his Cake Boss television show.
We talked to Buddy this Saturday at Hoboken's Annual Saint Patrick's Day Parade and found him pleasant, genuine, and still very down-to-earth. He is, and always has been, a great asset to our quaint Hudson River-front city.
But if it is sweets you are interested in, and you don't want to wait in the two block-long line for Carlo's, we offer a few suggestions. First, if you want chocolates, our next door neighbor Lepore's (105 Fourth Street), is a must! They have been making handmade deliciousness for over thirty years. Mario Lepore, the shop's owner, will be happy to serve you the same sweet treats he used to offer Ol' Blue Eyes himself.
If you want fresh baked goods, we LOVE Georgio's bakery (1112 Washington Street). This family-owned gem of an Italian bakery makes the greatest pine nut cookies on the planet. Are we exaggerating? No.
And finally, if it is delectable and beautiful cakes you are after, check out our friend Jennifer Roberts at Sweet Element (www.sweetelement.com) She is both a baker and a knitter extraordinaire. Her cakes are simply amazing. Check out the beautiful cake she made to help us celebrate our 5th year in business.
