New Ways to Satisfy Your Sweet
March 7, 2008
It’s not hard to find a good sandwich in the Medford/Somerville area. Pizza is aplenty, delicious Indian food is only a Joey ride away, and the masses of people during lunchtime at Anna’s should tell you something about the burritos in this town. Bakeries, however, seem to be a whole different story. After moving to Boston from my hometown in New York, I was certain that I had left any semblance of quality baked goods back at home. Coming from a state that boasts Magnolia Bakery, Buttercup Bake Shop, and a bevy of other drool-inducing boulangeries, my standards for sweet treats are on the higher side.
After a near catastrophe that involved a box of Betty Crocker cake mix and an incredibly high-pitched smoke alarm, I decided to venture out and explore my options. I began at Kickass Cupcakes, Davis Square’s self-proclaimed king of miniature cakey treats. However, as soon as we opened the door, the smell of greasy Chinese food wafted into my nostrils. Upon conferring with my friend, we chose to ignore the aroma of frying oil and sample the Super Chocolate and Mojito cupcakes. The dollop of frosting on the Super Chocolate was barely a bite’s worth, while the Mojito cupcake left my companion wondering if he was still sober enough to drive us home.
Throughout the next few months, I sampled sweets from the Danish Pastry House, Lyndell’s on Broadway, and Rosie’s Bakery. After perusing the area’s hotspots, I was still unsatisfied with my search, and a trip back to my hometown in December only reminded me of Butterfield Market’s giant chocolate frosted cupcakes and by-the-slice apple crumbles. At the beginning of the semester, a tip-off from a friend sent me on my way to 285 Beacon Street, a corner bakery across the street from Star Market in Somerville by the name of Petsi Pies.
As soon as I walked in I could tell that I had hit the jackpot. The aroma of sugary sweets and freshly brewed coffee that met me at the door was incredible; the walls were covered in homey drawings of fruits and vegetables, and red-checkered tablecloths adorned four café-style tables. Making my way to the front of the line, I scanned my eyes over the glass display case of goodies. A dozen coconut cupcakes with lush white frosting stood like miniature soldiers behind a hand-written sign. I spotted a few delicious-looking black currant and lemon glazed scones separated into a compartment near the tall pots of coffee. Gleefully, I ordered a whoopie pie and a lemon glazed scone (both of which were very reasonably priced) and headed home with my bag of goodies.
After a good-sized bite, I decided that “whoopie pie” was a fancy name for the delicious cream-filled chocolate cupcake that had found its way onto my table. The icing tasted like actual chocolate (take note, Kickass Cupcakes) and the cake was substantially rich without being too heavy. The lemon scone had the same deliciously intense texture; however, my sweet tooth decided that the whoopie pie was the real winner. I vowed to return to Petsi’s for a namesake treat: a Southern-style pie.
The following week, I sped through my morning routine and plucked my boyfriend out of bed to head to Petsi’s before closing time. We made it there just in time to sit down a cinnamon roll and a slice of apple crumb. Unlike a traditional apple pie, this one had dots of buttery brown sugar on top of thinly sliced Granny Smith and Cortland apples. Disregarding the missing gob of vanilla ice cream that should have adorned the crumbly top, it was by far one of the best slices of pie I’ve ever had. The lusciously thick cinnamon roll seemed reminded me of the famous sticky buns at Flour Bakery in Boston. The sweet glaze added a lovely accompaniment to the roll without stealing the spotlight. After my thorough search for a top-notch bakery, I had at long last landed at the place. From the homey atmosphere to the friendly service, all of the accoutrements of my new favorite pastry shop sent me home feeling peaceful and satisfied. My hunt for the best bakery near Tufts was finally over; Petsi Pies was the sugary-scented winner.
Petsi Pies is located at 285 Beacon St. in Somerville. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.