Sweet Caroline's Bakery

Wedding Cake Masterpiece. We are so happy we chose Sweet Caroline's Bakery to make our wedding cake. rich, the owner, set up a great tasting and we found out they use all handmade ingredients that just tasted fantastical. We brought pictures of what we were looking to do, and with confidence he said they could make our vision come true. I have to say, it was actually beyond our vision. The cake was the centerpiece of our wedding reception and came out absolutely beautiful! Not only that, it tasted incredible. They did this all at a very reasonable price. Anyone that wants a wedding cake of their dreams, Sweet Caroline's is the place go.

Simply Outstanding Bakery Find!. To celebrate Watson't birthday, I had decided on a nice delicate fish from the Surf and Turf Market when I spied a small yet tantalizing sign stuck in the grass near the western entrance to this particular shopping plaza on Tampa Rd.: Sweet Caroline's Bakery.

Mmmmm.....this has some.....By Jove! That's IT! I told myself, I will just pick up a few surprise morsels from this 'Caroline's' and also satisfy Watson's not so well kept secret chocolate fixation, surely they'll have something worthwhile to choose from........

Yet FINDING Sweet Caroline's is an investigation unto itself! Surreptitiously ensconced in the back corner of these shoppes I asked myself how any such enterprise might fare with such a hidden locale. The wisdom of the sign in the grass immediately became evident but is not nearly big enough to draw the volume of patrons I'm sure they wish!

With a closing time posted at 4 PM on this Saturday I strolled in at approximately quarter till, expecting to just pick up a nice sweet and be off. What I did NOT expect was to be introduced to a wonderful array of freshly baked goods and the proprietor's themselves manning the counter in cheery anticipation.

Happy and attentive I quickly ordered some chocolate dipped cookies, a chocolate twist roll, a Tiramisu, and a chocolate 7 layer cake slice; a healthy smattering sure to warm the cockles of Watson's sugary heart.

But a strange thing occurred as the proprietor, a young chap I recognized as the owner from the accompanying news articles on the wall near the counter, was boxing up my order. I was drawn to a Blueberry Scone under glass like a Hound to a Baskerville Wolf!

Stopping him in mid ring, I had him open up and place a number of additional selections into the box, including the Blueberry Scone that I might enjoy the following day with my tea.

So with a happy 'Good Day' I was off to prepare Watson's Birthday meal.

Now the fish was wonderful (A Grilled Flounder with a Garlic and Nectarine Chutney), as were all the accompaniments........but when I opened up the box of treats from Sweet Carolines Watson's eyes were as wide as milk saucers and as we partook in it's offerings, we were stunningly surprised not at their deliciousness but in the height of their wonder.

Watson, an aficionado in all things desert-like, exclaimed after several choice tastings "Holmes, that Tiramisu is by far the best Tiramisu I have ever EVER had the pleasure of sampling, and I should know for I've been eating them for more than 35 years! Simply delightful!" And he soon absconded with all manner of desert leftovers and squirreled them away for longevity.

Not being much of a chocolate person myself, preferring the inducements of a good pipe and a good Whiskey Olde Fashioned, I nevertheless found the deserts outstanding and sampled all of them......twice!

But upon awaking the following day and sipping my morning tea I recalled the Blueberry Scone and retrieved it post-haste. With the very first bite I leapt up on the bandwagon that Watson had so eagerly set rolling for this was unlike any scone I had ever had and was 'By far" the best scone I had ever tasted in all my years of investigation.

Not the hard crusted scones we've come to find in the many mass establishments that abound and not the sugary confectionary samples at say a Starbucks or a Panera........no THESE were truly the very definition of the word scone and were rife with both the taste and the texture of a blueberry medley! Oh Good Heavens! I would need to add this hidden bakery to my short list of MUST VISIT OFTEN locales!

My advice..........Go QUICKLY and enjoy the splendor! It is a find to marvel in.......OFTEN!

Watson! Put that fork down, you've had quite enough!!

I thought I remembered a cafe there the last time we grabbed a dessert and sure enough, they had a selection of soups and sandwiches available. Loren went for the turkey BLT croissant with a cup of creamy roasted asparagus soup.

Quaint bakery with a good selection of sandwiches and pastries. We had a panini and a croissant sandwich. The butternut squash soup was actually pretty good! Good service with a smile, we enjoyed our visit!

Sweet Caroline's Bakery is the most lovely place. Their food is delicious and only made from the highest quality ingredients. The bakery is so charming, the staff joyful, the service is fast, and the selection of temptations is great! Whether you desire a sandwich, soup, a baked treat, or a custom cake, Sweet Caroline's is the only choice!

Truly great find. Staff is super friendly and food is made with love. So Good!