Chicago - September 11, 2006

Caked On

Tipsycake Opens

Every baker will tell you that fresh is better than canned, butter beats the heck out of shortening, and there is no substitute for sugar.

But if there isn’t also passion for pastry in the kitchen, the cake is destined to fall flat (no matter the ingredients).

Which means there must be a whole lot of lovin’ going on at the newly opened Tipsycake in Humboldt Park. Australian pastry chef Naomi Stepanek started the bakery as an online shop delivering its rugelach, Lamingtons (an Aussie treat), and specialty cakes around the city and across the country.

And now she’s opened a darling storefront where you can pop in and pick up a scone on your way to work or set up an appointment to devise a handmade-from-scratch custom cake. (And they look as good as they taste — all of the cake decorators are trained artists.)

Masterpieces include layered weddings cakes with remarkably realistic edible sugar flowers, a baby bag packed with mom’s essentials, and a poker table for guys’ night in. They’ll make sure the finished product suits you perfectly.

No matter what your passion.

Tipsycake, 1043 North California Avenue, between Cortez and Thomas Streets (773-384-4418 or tipsycakechicago.com).