Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Savoia Lives On!: Part 2


Above: An assortment of pics from Lisa Zagami's Made in Heaven Cakes
An email from Lisa, there's old photos of Savoia on the way!
Hi David, That was so SWEET!! My whole family was so excited to see your post. My dad was loving the picture. He has some old pictures I would love to send you. Just let me know. Again thank you that was a nice memory. Best Lisa

A comment left on the previous Savoia post:
Ken said...
In the late 1960s, I went to P.S. 1, across the street from Savoia. In the early 1970s, I went to J.H.S. 65 Annex, just two blocks further away. The neighborhood was already very Chinese, and so the bakery had many Chinese customers, of whom I was one who occasionally ventured in for sweet pastries and birthday cakes. I can still imagine biting into a Savoia cream puff, my favorite! Lisa, it is possible I ran into you a few times in the store at the time but never talked to you, but I am glad to hear that you stayed in the business and opened up your own cake shop as an adult! And thanks to Sol for this website for evoking the nostalgia of growing up in and around Knickerbocker Village!

from Paul Kefer
Savoia's was the ultimate family bakery. All of their cakes and pastries were delicious; especially their whipped cream cakes, which were a staple in my house.
Let's not forget the jelly doughnuts! I still haven't found a better one yet. The Italian ices (homemade, I think) were a treat in the summertime.

from Son of Seth, in one of his free-form remembrances
By the way, Howie, thank for that maple walnut.  It was delaycious.  Still miles ahead of Junior's and any other similar establishment.  Savoia oh boya. You know what I'm saying here. We would load up on candy by the quarter pound from that obscure bakery that was just around the corner on Madison Street, quarter block from Catherine - around the corner from the Brokowsky's fruit store, Gogol's and the pharmacy on the corner. Next to the newstand. Remember? By the bus stop. See what I'm saying? (In your mind, can you see it?) Bakery had golden and tan tile design but couldn't hold a candle to Savoia. No marble floors either. Excellent. Savoia's is fine with me.  Maple walnut cake? Or maybe I'll go with the strawberry short cake. Or if the season is right the peach short cake.  Whatever.  Ices in every flavor?  Can't go wrong with their ices.  All rightee then.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Savoia had the best cakes. The whip cream was great and the ices were the BEST! Lisa glad to see you are keeping the family goodies going. Wish I lived in Brooklyn to get some. It brings back great memories. Susan Miller

Anonymous said...

The name of the bakery was St. Joseph's Bakery and Savoia's sherbert ices couldn't hold a candle to St. Josephes real Italian ices.

Gene Morris said...

I am so glad I found the KV blog. I grew up in the Smith Houses from 1952 until I left at the age of 18 in 1968. The ONLY pastry I would buy would ALWAYS be from Savoia's. I was crazy about their Pineapple danishes and would save up my pennies to get just one! I also loved their fruit icies... Just thinking bout Savoia brings back memories of when, even though I did not have any money - I would still go in to Savoia JUST TO SMELL THE AROMAS OF FRESH BAKED GOODIES!....Please post some photos if any are available. Thank you again for sharing ad reviving wonderful memories.

Unknown said...

My name is Lenny Polizzi. I lived at 45 Catherine Street, above Gogels and the Brokoski's fruit stand. Savoia was my favorite bakery in the neighborhood. Their competition was St. Joseph's Bakery on Madison. Savoia was the better of the two. Some of the employees at Savoia's were Murphy, Alfred Conticello and a former baker Mike Zuffante, my uncle. I would go in on Saturdays and Alfred with have a special jelly donut for me, overfilled with jelly so that when I bit into it I got jelly all over me.

Unknown said...

My name is Lenny Polizzi. I lived at 45 Catherine Street, above Gogels and the Brokoski's fruit stand. Savoia was my favorite bakery in the neighborhood. Their competition was St. Joseph's Bakery on Madison. Savoia was the better of the two. Some of the employees at Savoia's were Murphy, Alfred Conticello and a former baker Mike Zuffante, my uncle. I would go in on Saturdays and Alfred with have a special jelly donut for me, overfilled with jelly so that when I bit into it I got jelly all over me.