Los Angeles - August 30, 2002

A Plum Deal

SugarPlum Bakery Opens

Every now and again we hesitate before tipping you off about a great place. Sometimes we just want to keep the candy all to ourselves. In this case, we want to keep the candy, cakes, and cookies all to ourselves. And the tarts. And the croissants. But we wouldn’t dare keep SugarPlum from you.

The SugarPlum Bakery, which opens on Labor Day (at seven in the morning!), is a European-style patisserie, a mecca for the sweet-of-tooth. You’d never guess that the art-nouveau-inspired boite — with Italian-crystal chandeliers, mahogany cases, and high wall mirrors — once housed a ho-hum Noah’s Bagels. It’s the perfect setting for the A.M. espresso and croissant, the mid-shopping panini break, or the afternoon dose of coffee and chocolate. They’ve got nine kinds of scones. Multiple fruit tarts. Handmade chocolates. Cakes? Oh yes — fifteen prepared daily. Wedding and birthday cakes, too. (Take that, Sweet Lady Jane!)

The SugarPlum Fairies (as we like to call them), Jenna Turner (former manager of Voda and the Farm of Beverly Hills) and Anna Delorefice (former pastry chef at Spago) dreamt of redefining the meaning of bakery — with a mix of Italian and French styles, conciergelike service, and the most delish treats in town. We think they’ve done it.

Plum’s the word!

The SugarPlum Bakery, 7122 Beverly Boulevard, west of La Brea (323-934-7900).