Buffalo is home to a hundred or more traditional Italian bakeries and a handful of shops that specialize in German sweets, and for that we can all be grateful. But it's nice to mix it up once in a while, and I often find myself wishing that a French or Spanish bakery would make its way onto my radar.
I was recently told about Bruni's on Grant Street, a bakery that specializes in Puerto Rican sweets. Located in a former paint store in the blocks that stretch between Amherst Street and Military, Bruni's story is a tale of passion and entrepreneurship. Brunilda Rodriguez began experimenting in her home kitchen with classic Puerto Rican pastries two years ago. Finding love for the work, she also began taking cake decorating courses. A year and a half ago she moved into 1027 Grant Street and overhauled it, redecorating and installing a kitchen and retail area.
Puerto Rican desserts line the display case. On my visit there were pastelillos of crisp, puff pastry filled with sweet guava and dusted with powdered sugar, quesitos of baked pastry augmented by a dripping of corn syrup and lined with a thick layer of sweetened cream cheese, and wedges of spicy bread pudding. On some days she has also fresh flan. There are also chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, brownies, cannoli and freshly baked bread. Everything is remarkably inexpensive- large cookies made from scratch are a mere 3 for $1.00, and the handmade Puerto Rican pastries are less than $2 a piece.
But Bruni's Cakes & More has really made its name by furnishing customers with one-of-a-kind custom cakes. Bruni likes a challenge, and showed me a book packed with photos of her hundreds (maybe thousands) of creations. Character cakes and kid’s birthday cakes are popular, but very difficult wedding cakes and special occasion cakes are her favorite. During our chat she showed me the sketch for a cake she's making for an upcoming sweet sixteen party. The main portion of the cake stands atop pillars over a fountain. Surrounding cakes are connected to the main body of the design by crystal-looking staircases. The piped icing detail is tremendous.
When I asked Bruni about what else she does that people might find of interest she told me about a bride that came from Miami to marry a Buffalo boy. She wanted a vegan cake. Though Bruni had never made one before, and the organic ingredients were unfamiliar to her, she took the opportunity to do something new and ran with it. The cake was a huge success and Bruni has found herself a niche. A good thing to keep in mind for any of you that are vegans, vegan cakes are not easy to find.
In Buffalo, and elsewhere, most bakeries survive because of their commercial accounts. I think any area restaurateur that feels that Bruni's breads or sweets might fit their menu should seriously consider giving her a call; her prices are right ,and everything is made with love and care.
Bruni's is only open three days a week: Thursdays from 7AM - 3PM, Friday from 7AM -3PM, and Saturday from 9AM - 5PM.
Bruni's Cakes & More
1027 Grant Street, Buffalo 14207
716.873.0751