Something for everyone. That would be the theme of this sweet post and really the whole focus of how JaCivas Bakery and Chocolatier treats their role as the local, neighborhood bakery and candy shop.
This time of year, every possible niche has a gift, from 45-cent foil-wrapped hearts for little kids with pocket change to the $250 giant heart-shaped box of 100 mixed chocolates for businesses with a large enough staff to justify the expense. As I walk around with store owner, Iva, surveying all our Valentines options, I’m that kid in the candy store all over again, discovering an amazing new treasure around every corner.
Sugary Sweet Valentines Cookies, check. Velvet covered boxes of chocolates, of course. But what’s this? . . . ornate handmade dark and light chocolate boxes with velvety truffles inside. OK, these are not to be wasted on children and, at $12 – $15 each, are right in my price range for personal indulgence. I can gift myself on Valentines Day, right?
Iva and Jack Elmer started baking up and spinning out treats in Boring Oregon in 1972 moving to Hawthorne Boulevard in 1986. It’s not hard to get your own personal bakery and chocolate shop tour from one of them, even on a busy day, since they both love showing off all the things that their daughters and the rest of their 27-person staff dream up each week and put out on display. Cheerful and chipper Tammy is a regular presence at the front counter and a fervent promoter of their new red velvet cupcakes. They had already sold out for the day when I came in late in the afternoon so I didn’t get to try a sample but her description of the moist, dreamy cake slathered in cream cheese frosting almost did me in.
If you don’t have a good tolerance for sugar or dairy, Iva wouldn’t want you to be left out of the mix. There’s a wide selection of sugar-free confections and any of the staff can let you know which dark chocolate items are completely milk- and butter-free.
If you are looking for something you can’t get anywhere else, you’ll be happy to know that their collection of chocolate molds after all these years is impressive and broad, from complete chocolate chess sets to the hallow chocolate piñatas they make for Thanksgiving, Christmas and, of course, Valentines Day. $35 will secure a playground ball sized chocolate cup cake shaped piñata filled with mystery treats of the chocolate and jelly bean varieties.
And all that skill they have at decorating cakes and torts pays off when they turn their efforts at this time of year to long-stemmed white chocolate roses colored pink and yellow and wrapped up so they are almost too pretty to eat.
So . . . there are just four full shopping days before sweetheart day. Whether you need those dozen or so little treats for a kid’s class or a mini torte for a romantic dinner at home, a quick swing by 4733 SE Hawthorne 7:30am – 6pm every day of the week (until 10pm on Friday and Saturday) will get you all taken care of.
You can make Valentines Day last all year long since every Friday and Saturday are a romantic adventure at JaCiva’s After Dark dessert house http://www.jacivas.com/afterdark.php where their very best desserts get served with late-night coffee and extra rich hot chocolate 5pm – 10pm. There’s a festive family flavor to this service which makes me feel like I’m in a South American or European town on a faraway vacation.
Having a locally-owned bakery that employs workers right here in Sunnyside with chocolates made by hand and transported from one room to the next instead of one country to another is a sweet spot in the fabric of our community. Thank you, Iva and Jack, for bringing lots of joy to the neighborhood and for funding The Roost as one of your many sweet gifts to the community.
JaCivas Bakery and Chocolatier
4733 SE Hawthorne
(503) 234- 8115
