Delicious Things Happening at Sweet Impressions

By Morgan Stafford;  Photo by Expressions Photography

    From traditional favorites to custom creations, Sweet Impressions is offering the Central community a cafe/bakery experience it’s never seen before. Karl and Stephanie Will married 12 years ago with no idea how perfect their match truly was. Karl is a professional chef who trained at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and displayed his talents in many 4-star hotels and restaurants across the country, including the Baton Rouge Country Club. Stephanie has an artistic background ranging from painting to sculpting and pottery. Their talents first combined to make their own wedding and groom’s cakes. Their photographer, John Bridges, commented that he had never tasted a cake so good! He began to spread the word and before long, a business was born. After 10 strong years, their cake business was ready for the next step. When the opportunity arose for a retail location on Greenwell Springs Road, they knew it was fate.

    Offering a wide variety of breakfast pastries from delicious danish to terrific turnovers, they also have a full breakfast, lunch and coffee menu. Featuring items such as the “Venetian”, a sandwich on ciabatta bread with marinated chicken breast, spinach, bacon, egg, tomato and a red pepper mayo, their menu offers tastes and combinations for every palate. Looking for something simpler? Try the club sandwich on white or wheat bread, or the basic breakfast plate, which includes two eggs, grits or home fries, biscuit or toast and bacon or sausage. When possible, they try to accommodate guests’ special requests. Everything is made in house, from the roasting of the meats to the salad dressings and the desserts and pastries! The menu, an ever-changing process, is soon to feature new items, including beignets!

   The made-from-scratch cakes have been the main focal point for this business. Karl, in charge of baking and assembling, makes sure every mouthful is moist and delicious. Stephanie, in charge of the finishing touches, utilizes her artistic background when molding fondant, and her training in painting gives her the color theory she needs to create something as beautiful as it tastes. They won the Judge’s Choice award at the 2010 Quota International Cake Decorating Contest, and have appeared in several Advocate “Wedding Issues.”  Their cake pictures have appeared in many publications including “In Register”. Their work has also appeared in the Perfect Wedding Guide as one of the Perfect Vendors. At any time you can find their delicious cakes, tarts, petit fours or sweet treats for sale at Sweet Impressions.

    The ambiance of the cafe is welcoming and relaxing. You can enjoy your breakfast or lunch on their outdoor patio at a cast iron, umbrella covered table. They offer a dining room, which seats 40, for special events or meetings. Call ahead for special orders such as breakfast pastry variety boxes and sandwich trays; a great treat for the office! Delivery can also be arranged. They recently joined “Buy Local”, which offers cards that grant discounts from locally owned businesses. “Like” their facebook page, “Sweet Impressions Bakery and Cafe”, to keep up with new menu items and receive special discounts only offered to facebook friends! They also offer a 10% discount for firemen, policemen and paramedics in uniform. Eventually, they hope to expand to property they own on Sullivan Road. If you have yet to visit this locally owned business, you are truly missing a “sweet treat.”

    Sweet Impressions Bakery and Cafe is open Tuesday- Friday 7 a.m.- 6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.- 5p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. Located at 17661 Greenwell Springs Rd. Across from Bellingrath Lakes Subdivision Call 225-261-3201 to place your breakfast or lunch order, for pick-up from our drive-thru, to order cakes/sweets or to book a cake tasting!