07/13/09

Bennisons can't make a cannolo

by EvanstonResident

I was passing by with my wife one day when I decided to treat her to something yummy. I said to myself, "Hmmm, I don't know if my wife had a decent cannolo before." I brought her in, ordered her one, and I saw the guy pull the shell out of a box and fill it with some sugar cream paste and roll it with green sprinkles. The whole time I'm thinking to myself "Why am I going to pay for this?" My wife doesn't have high standards when it comes to sweets, but she was disappointed. I'll grant them this: It was a standard half#*$ American cannolo. If you want to be a respectable bakery though then take the time to make the shells and filling yourself, and try topping it with something other than what every other standard American bakery uses.

Next, right after ordering her soon-to-be disappointing treat, I saw the bread pudding in the window and decided to give it a whirl. I ask the clerk for it and he takes it out, briefly heats it up in a microwave (might have been a conventional oven or sort I don't recall) but it was still 90% refridgerator cold when I got it. Newsflash folks, you don't serve bread pudding cold. Furthermore, it was the worst bread pudding I've had yet. Now, being from New Orleans I might have higher standards than most for these types of delicacies, but seriously... If I could serve all of Chicago my supereasy to make bread pudding (recipe came from Mrs. Levail, a cafeteria worker employed at Centenary College of Louisiana), Chicagoans would spew on what Bennisons served my wife and I.

I found this website because I was looking for a place to buy my wife a birthday cake later on this week, and saw Bennisons listed. After my 1 dismal experience with them I would not purchase a cake from them. I imagine that there is a high likelihood they would order it and not bake it themselves, and at the very best write some inscription of my request upon it.

Folks, just because it is sweet does not make it high-quality. America really has lost its food standards, but I guess the country that invented and perfected fast food should not surprise me there.

• Pros: None really I was very disappointed
• Cons: They don't know what they are doing

06/26/07

Great Croissants

by lovechicago1

Bennisons is a wonderful bakery that has been in Evanston for a very long time (a Chicago staple for yummy baked goods). I wouldn't recommend ordering coffee here-- the staff doesn't make a great cup. However, the bakery is divine. A chocolate croissant will leave you speechless... they are amazing.