Pâtisserie for the Soul

Creature Comforts

When G and I had our unplanned trip to Miami last month (hurricane Ian evacuation), we soon found ourselves with a dilemma.

We could sit in our hotel room and watch the nonstop coverage of Ian’s slow moving wrath, stay glued to the television watching the weather, the increasingly distraught reporters, the destruction. Or we could summon up the energy to leave the hotel room and explore and move.

It was a tougher decision than you’d think. Stressed, worried, curled up, overtired, that can blur your brain.

Where could we find comfort?

The option to cook for comfort was out of the picture. No cabbage and noodles. No bowl of homemade soup.

While our side of the state was under attack from Mother Nature, in Miami the sky was blue, there was a slight ocean breeze, and temperatures around eighty.

We looked at the local maps on our phones and discovered that we weren’t too far from our favorite bakery.

When we lived in Fort Lauderdale for a hot second, we’d discovered Zak the Baker, in the trendy Wynwood neighborhood of Miami. We made our way over there and found its familiar rainbow-walled corner spot.

When we first went to Zak’s in 2020, it was a bit quiet and filled with hard working bakers. This time, the place was buzzing with bakers and customers galore. The James Beard Foundation honored Zak earlier this year and now Zak the Baker is a destination. (Go, Zak!) G ordered a four pack of cinnamon rolls (two for breakfast, two for the hotel room) and found me outside at a shaded picnic table.

It worked so well that we went out the next day and explored Coral Gables where we found a bookstore and architecture and a promenade. And tacos!

When we got home and took a few days to feel relief and sleep in our own bed, we patted ourselves on the back for choosing to find comfort.

For the first week or so after coming home, staples like eggs and butter proved hard to find. When the shelves were stocked again, I was giddy. I needed to bake and create some comfort at home.

Conveniently, fall has arrived and with it, the additional motivation to bake and bake from now through the holiday season. It’s time to open up all the windows, all day long, don the apron, and gather apples and pumpkin and and cranberries and chocolate chips. To start!

In the kitchen, I find my mom and dad.

I feel inspiration from the work of Ruth Reichl, David Lebovitz, and Dorie Greenspan.

G and I have found ourselves at many a table with pastry and coffee in so many places.

And just seeing him across from me is the best comfort of all.

Thanks again for reading! I care about you. Please don’t forget to eat your greens.

***Written to Lissie’s Carving Canyons.