MIDDLETOWN—Bakeries and candy stores in Middletown and Wallkill have plenty of love to give on Valentine’s Day.
Local bakeries Carmine’s and DeFillippi’s have specialty cakes and cookies popular for the holiday. Gertrude Hawke Candy Store, Candy Land, and the Sugar Shack bring sweetness for a child’s Valentine surprise. Something Sweet’s sumptuous desserts and dinners can be enjoyed in intimate surroundings for a cozy Valentine for two.
Chocolate and More
As Feb. 14 appears on the horizon, bakeries and candy stores that cater to local tastes may agree with Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz: “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” Chocolate baked goods, especially cakes and cookies, are a popular choice.
Vincent Fratto, an owner of DeFilippis Italian Pastry Shop in Middletown, says the big seller on Valentine’s are heart-shaped cakes, chocolate-dipped strawberries, miniature pastries, and cookies.
He says both men and women come in for a holiday treat on the day. “You get ladies who come in and get heart-shaped cake for their husbands or vice-versa.” Sfogliatelles, ricotta-filled Italian pastries, are Fratto’s favorite any time of the year.
What could be more popular than the dessert classics—cakes with whipped cream—for the big day, according to Carmine’s present manager and youngest son of the owner, Carmine Arrotta.
