Baked bliss at Hometown Desserts
PAT COPELAND | SUN From left, Rica Ostrander and
Cindy Tutterow with their sign on Pine Avenue.
At right, a
selection of cakes and other goodies
available at Hometown Desserts.
ANNA MARIA – The sweet smell of cakes and cookies, truffles and tarts fills the air as you open enter Hometown Desserts, newly opened on Pine Avenue in Anna Maria.
The bakery, tucked behind Bob Brown’s Art Gallery and next to AMI Outfitters, is a collaboration between Cindy Tutterow and Rica Ostrander.
“It’s a perfect marriage of two businesses,” said Ostrander, who creates the shop’s custom cakes.
“She prefers decorating, and I prefer baking,” added Tutterow, who is the shop’s baker.
To please the palate, the shop offers wedding, birthday and special occasion cakes, traditional cakes in several sizes, tarts, fudge, mini cupcakes, cake truffles, cookies, mini pies, pies, cheesecakes, a cake roll and trail mix. Custom cakes are available.
Other offerings include cake stands and wedding accessories such as cake serving pieces and toppers. Decorative cake stands also are for rent.
Both Tutterow and Ostrander are former English teachers from King Middle School, and each left the teaching profession to start her own baking business.
Tutterow’s wholesale business grew to include the Chiles group of restaurants, Moore’s Stone Crab restaurant and the Pine Avenue General Store and Deli. There she met Lizzie Van and Mike Thrasher and decided to open the bakery in one of their buildings.
“It’s a good fit,” Tutterow said. “We have lots of accounts on the Island, and we are partners with the general store.”
Ostrander began her business in 2010 making wedding cakes out of a deli on St. Armands Circle and also making custom cakes. When Tutterow began looking for someone to do custom cakes, friends put her in touch with Ostrander.
“We hope the local people will come in and see what good products we have,” Tutterow said.
A grand opening celebration with a ribbon cutting and refreshments for the four new stores in the area, is set for Friday, Nov. 16.
The shop is located at 507B Pine Avenue, and hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact them at 896-3167 or ricascakes.com or facebook.com/hometowndesserts.