lovely products at chicago’s lovely bake shop

lovely, a fresh-faced bakery at 1130 n. milwaukee avenue, just opened their doors a few days ago. it’s the most civilized bakery to open since bittersweet, and the food is delicious too!

this stretch of milwaukee, between division and the highway, is half industrial, half residential - and not too pleasing from an aesthetic standpoint. you won’t remember what’s outside though, once you step into the warmly lit space, with painted tin ceiling, oversized vintage bakery photographs and plenty of comfortable antique tables and chairs.

brooke and gina, the owners, studied at the french pastry school downtown. they’ve created sweet vignettes within the shop featuring antique commercial baking essentials, so if you get tired of sitting and eating, there’s something to walk over and admire.

you won’t be bored eating, though. these girls have got pastry game. the antique pastry cases are reflective of the shop’s classic inventory: flaky croissants, cakey madeleines, not-too-sweet blueberry muffins. chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookies. raspberry tea cakes and coconut skivvies (you’ll have to ask them). h & h bagels from new york are the only things not made on the premises. a separate case holds delectable cakes.

until today, i thought sweet thang had a stranglehold on authentic croissant baking in the city. now, i’m not so sure.

lovely’s store design sets itself apart from other bakeries with it’s gorgeous shop area. most of the handmade items, like tea towels, aprons and soaps, are made by local artists. everything is charming, and reasonably priced. i have a strong feeling that the folks from design*sponge would like this place.

if you whiz down milwaukee avenue on your way to work like me, or if you don’t, you need to stop and visit. right away.

check out their blog until their website goes live.

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