Metuka, The Pastry House
Lucky 39th Street West has a new pastry shop, Metuka. (Metuka, The Pastry House is located at 1614 West 39th Street in the Volker neighborhood of Kansas City, MO 64111.) And, oh my goodness, do sweet tooths across the metro have a treat in store for them! Although this bakery has only been open since June of this year, I have already become a regular. I just can't stay away. I dream about the delectable delights awaiting me on my next visit. I have even been known to sneak these delicious desserts into my fridge and creatively hide them from my husband and son for my own selfish enjoyment. Unforgivable, I know.
Here is something you should know about me. I'm not much of a sugar-loving gal. I much prefer the savory to the sweet on any given occasion. That's why this place is so worthy of a visit. For the first time in my adult life, I'm actually craving sugar. But only for Ellen's creations at Metuka...
Ellen Hume, the baker/owner extraordinaire, has named her pastry house after the Hebrew word for Sweet (can also be translated as My Sweet, or Sweetie). These words perfectly describe this little pastry shop. Even the interior is sweet, as Ellen has made her store very welcoming and appealing. I especially adore all of the unique cake stands filling her shelves and cases. Although this shop is small, you find yourself wanting to sit at the little cafe table enjoying a nice cup of coffee (also offered) along with a special treat. Ellen herself is very welcoming, a very genial and thoughtful owner. She even welcomed me into her kitchen impromptu where the magic is made and let me take some photographs of her fresh-from-the oven banana bread. Let me tell you, the smell was heavenly.
I am slowly making my way through all that she has to offer (which changes often, there is a variety each time I have been), but here are my favorites so far:
Cannoli. Holy Cannoli, are these sinfully decadent! You almost can't take the pure richness of these mouth-watering cannoli, but you won't be able to stop until every last bite has been savored. What makes these cannoli extra-special are the chocolate chips and the magical way the creamy, pillow-soft filling doesn't melt, while the pastry shell remains crisp and flavorful. No soggy cannoli at this patisserie!
Mocha Cake. This delicious cake is similar to a tiramisu cake but with more of a coffee flavor and even more scrumptious. This is a 6-layer cake, and every bite is spongy (not gooey) and pure bliss.
Palmier. As with every treat I have sampled from Metuka, the palmiers were also first-class and each bite testifies to its freshness. Unlike store-bought cookies of this kind, these palmiers were not soggy or stale, but perfectly crumbly, while the dark chocolate they have been dipped in melted in your mouth but not in your hand.
Some other favorites: Triple Chocolate Brownie (death by chocolate, anyone?) and White Chocolate Almond Shortbread Cookie (the almond slivers were the cherry on top). Oh, and did I mention that Metuka also offers Smoothies?! Choose from Berry Dazzler, Strawberry Banana, Mango Orange, or Fruit Medley. I have also heard that this amazing place offers deli sandwiches and salads on occasion, although I haven't yet sampled either fare. I am too focused on satisfying my newfound sweet tooth...
Metuka, The Pastry House is located at 1614 West 39th Street in the Volker neighborhood of Kansas City, MO 64111.
If you're on the hunt for the new sweetest treat in town, call 816-561-1560 or email www.metukapastryhouse@gmail.com