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The story of La Petite Sweet, a bakery/cafe that opened recently in downtown Westmont, has all the makings of a classic American movie with a few modern plot twists: Love, death, dreams, roller skating and a treasured Italian recipe for biscotti.
The spacious cafe is a far cry from the nail salon owner Diane Eenigenburg was running several years ago, and an even farther cry from her life before that raising her children in Oswego and Naperville with husband, Mike.
“He thought I made the best cookies in the whole world,” Eenigenburg said. “For 17 years, he always thought we should have a bakery and I should sell my cookies.”
But the timing was never right. When her husband died suddenly, Eenigenburg, a former national champion roller skater, eventually turned back to the rink to get a release from the grief.
It was at the rink she reconnected with Bob Eenigenburg, also a skater whom she had known from the past. The two married in 2005. With his prodding and the help of family members, Eenigenburg decided to finally give the bakery a go.
“He (Bob) is my biggest supporter; without his help, this wouldn’t have happened,” she said gesturing to the cafe. “It just goes to show you life can go on.”
And so can recipes, despite oceans and language barriers in between.
The cornerstone sweet of La Petite Sweet is the biscotti — a “traditional, not rock hard, but crisp” treat, as she describes it — and the recipe was passed on to Eenigenburg from her grandmother, who brought it over from Italy.
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La Petite Sweet Ribbon cutting ceremony: Tuesday, June 17 |
“When she gave me the recipe, it was in Italian,” Eenigenburg said. “The first time I made it, it looked like a loaf of bread.”
La Petite Sweet sells Eenigenburg’s signature in traditional Italian, double chocolate walnut, cranberry white chocolate, orange ginger, lemon and espresso chocolate chip.
One day she would like to brand the biscotti and sell them wholesale in stores, which she already does for one shop in New York City.
In addition to the biscotti, La Petite Sweet sells cookies, pastries, breads, homemade pizza and coffee drinks, as well as custom cakes and cookies. With edible ink screen printing technology, she can customize any cookie or cake with a logo, design or even a photograph.
The story of La Petite Sweet, a bakery/cafe that opened recently in downtown Westmont, has all the makings of a classic American movie with a few modern plot twists: Love, death, dreams, roller skating and a treasured Italian recipe for biscotti.
The spacious cafe is a far cry from the nail salon owner Diane Eenigenburg was running several years ago, and an even farther cry from her life before that raising her children in Oswego and Naperville with husband, Mike.
“He thought I made the best cookies in the whole world,” Eenigenburg said. “For 17 years, he always thought we should have a bakery and I should sell my cookies.”
But the timing was never right. When her husband died suddenly, Eenigenburg, a former national champion roller skater, eventually turned back to the rink to get a release from the grief.
It was at the rink she reconnected with Bob Eenigenburg, also a skater whom she had known from the past. The two married in 2005. With his prodding and the help of family members, Eenigenburg decided to finally give the bakery a go.
“He (Bob) is my biggest supporter; without his help, this wouldn’t have happened,” she said gesturing to the cafe. “It just goes to show you life can go on.”
And so can recipes, despite oceans and language barriers in between.
The cornerstone sweet of La Petite Sweet is the biscotti — a “traditional, not rock hard, but crisp” treat, as she describes it — and the recipe was passed on to Eenigenburg from her grandmother, who brought it over from Italy.
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La Petite Sweet Ribbon cutting ceremony: Tuesday, June 17 |
“When she gave me the recipe, it was in Italian,” Eenigenburg said. “The first time I made it, it looked like a loaf of bread.”
La Petite Sweet sells Eenigenburg’s signature in traditional Italian, double chocolate walnut, cranberry white chocolate, orange ginger, lemon and espresso chocolate chip.
One day she would like to brand the biscotti and sell them wholesale in stores, which she already does for one shop in New York City.
In addition to the biscotti, La Petite Sweet sells cookies, pastries, breads, homemade pizza and coffee drinks, as well as custom cakes and cookies. With edible ink screen printing technology, she can customize any cookie or cake with a logo, design or even a photograph.
Before opening in Westmont, the bakery operated a “floating” location for special orders, but the permanent spot on Cass Avenue has been a labor of love. The relaxing ambiance is enhanced by a variety of hardwoods, “buttery yellow” wall colors and comfortable lounging chairs. The cafe is “absolutely non-corporate” Eenigenburg said, with the small staff — comprised mostly family members — all the way down to the poofy yellow curtains adorning the windows, hand-sewn by a friend.
Her daughter, Jaime Macella, 28, tends to the front of the house duties, and said she often has to pencil in times on the employee schedule for her mother to sleep — otherwise, she will not.
Even so, Macella said her mother often bakes through the night.
“The hours are grueling, but it’s about giving people something that’s real,” Eenigenburg said. “Real butter, real sugar, real flour ... and that ‘yum’ when they take the first bite.”
