A'Putia, a Sicilian Pastry Shop, Opens in Caramello/ Cafe Sant Edesia Space
Monday, December 16, 2024 at 7:56AM
In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it turnover, Cafe Sant Edesia closed after less than a week in the space that was last occupied by Caramello (on Fifth between Union and Berkeley), and a new Sicilian bakery called A'Putia has opened in its place.
A'Putia is the brainchild of Sicilian entrepreneur Giacomo d'Alessandro, and the shop's two specialties are cannoli (made with sheep's milk ricotta flown in from Italy once a week) and cassata, which is sort of a layer cake made with sponge cake, cannoli filling, marzipan, and candied fruit. Both are available in a couple sizes, and though the menu is extremely limited for now (foccaccia and coffee are also available), these are very high-quality, authentically Sicilian offerings and will soon be joined by panini, quiche, croissants, and salads. There's another location in Hoboken, and they also sell wholesale.
Whether or not A'Putia (which means a typical shop where you can find traditional products in Sicilian dialect) can find enough of a niche for itself in the neighborhood to turn a profit remains to be seen, but it looks like there's an actual business plan behind it and the one in Hoboken has been getting great reviews. And I tried the cannoli, and it's damn good.
It has some competition, but Cafe Sant Edesia just might win the prize for shortest-running Slope business in recent memory.
Open For Business in Food, Scoops, Storefronts
Reader Comments (14)
chance of success? 0%
What competition? I've been wanting a true Italian Pastry shop in Park Slope for a long time
And a Meh fell over the room.
Meeeehhh
Competition might be pastry/cafe/gelateria L'Albero dei Gelati at 5th&5th?
So meeeeeeeeeh! Such a lack of business vision in the slope these days. Another bakery on 5th, another bakery on 7th, another sushi spot on 7th. I'm falling asleep and out of love with our commercial strips these days.
So much for small business support. This would never happen with a chain-we need a Big Lots!
Come on now. The retail strips are better than they've ever been. They are nearly full (as opposed to a vacancy rate over 50% 10 years ago), they are crowded with shoppers from our neighborhood and they have become a draw especially during the holidays for people from other parts of the city.
It's a testament to how full our retails strips are that there are now multiples of many things. If you have the time during the holiday break, just take a walk from Flatbush Avenue down 7th Avenue, make a right on 18th street and walk to 5th Avenue and make a right and walk all the way up to Bergen and hang a right. I think anyone would be hard pressed to be IMpressed with what this neighborhood has to offer. The neighborhood has become a vintage mecca (Trailer Park, Beacons Closet, Guvnor's, L Train, Life Boutique, Housing Works, and that's only half of them). There are a ton of great gift shops like Loom and Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store and Paper Source, there are lots of new bars and restaurants (I highly recommend a stop at Leske's bakery when you're on 5th Avenue with a terrific selection of Scandinavian treats), stop for a snack at Bklyn Larder or L'albero dei Gelati or Meltkraft, you will soon be able to grab a burrito across the street at Calexico, you can get the best bagel in the city at Bagel Hole on 7th Avenue, pick up some amazing cheese at Valley Shepherd Creamery and see one of the best beer selections at Eagle Provisions. Don't even get me started if you need gifts for kids, there is probably nowhere better to shop than PS.
Just because there are a lot of sushi places doesn't mean PS retail sucks. You do realize that as recently as 1997, most of 5th Avenue looked like a bombed out wasteland, correct?
meant of course that anyone would be hard pressed NOT to be impressed with all that the neighborhood has to offer. You can do the entirety of your shopping in the neighborhood for nearly anything and everything, a big change from 10 years ago.
Why not cannoli? I think some nice cannoli varieties a la Libby's in New Haven would be a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. It's certainly better than "Caramello without the one reason you went to Caramello," which lasted about as long as it should have.
I'll have to give a taste.
Competition might be pastry/cafe/gelateria L'Albero dei Gelati at 5th&5th?
December 16, 2024 | Brooklyn Food Gal
So meeeeeeeeeh! Such a lack of business vision in the slope these days.
I think and I am Sure the competition with Albero Dei Gelati is loser if they will try to make the same stuff with raw organic materials ,but if they need a help I could give a suggestion with my special "Panini" I have had a contact to come in Park Slope to Albero Dei Gelati they tasted my panini last year in Italy and they told to me to come in Brooklyn, but not for money question the trade agreement has not been finalized.
I've tried the "special panini" line before, too, Franco. I usually get slapped.
I am sorry for my English but Mr Felton you write that you have tried the "Special Panini" and I don't understand slapped the translation means Schiaffo,My paninis are very good and I steel have a dream to make my panini in USA I lost the chance to come in Park Slope at Albero Dei Gelati but as I write if they need I could come in the new open Caffè Saint Edesia,the problem is to have a contact.
Could Felton and Franco be HPS's first love connection.
I don't think he quite gets my sense of humor, Jbob. Tough to turn down a special panini, though. Am I the only one that thought that sounded a little creepy?