Bakery a Sweet Addition to Moodus

Pastry chef and owner of the newly opened Desservir Bakery in the Moodus section of East Haddam, Jessica Maly has always thought of baking as a form of art.

This 30-year-old entrepreneur has always been interested in the artistic aspect of baking, saying she considers it "edible art."

Trained in pastry from the Connecticut Culinary Institute (now Lincoln Culinary Institute) in Hartford, since July of 2007, Maly, now enrolled at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, is working toward her bachelor's degree in illustration — a melding of her two passions.

"Desservir" in French means literally "to clear the table." After a table is cleared of the main meal, something sweet usually follows, hence the word "dessert."

This young pastry chef moved to town about six years ago from Portland, where she graduated from  high school in 1998. She has decided this is where she wants to stay.

"East Haddam is where I'll call home from now on," she says.

Family is important to the chef. For the holidays, Maly baked pumpkin pie with a cranberry crust for her family: two children, Sage, 11, and Jason, 14, and fiancé Eric Smith of East Haddam.

Her grandfather Charlie was an East Haddam native and well-known in town. He had been a school bus driver, a 50-year member of the East Haddam Volunteer Fire Department and an East Haddam constable for many years.

Maly gained hands-on experience during her three years working as a pastry chef at Haddam's Cooking Co., for about three years. Prior to that, she was a donut finisher at Dunkin' Donuts, and her first job was at Tommy's Pizza in Portland.

Late last year, Maly decided to use her expertise and love of preparing and baking desserts to open her own business, specializing in chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut and lemon cakes filled with chocolate or white chocolate mousse, chocolate ganache, buttercream or cream cheese icing.

At the American Legion Hall, at 34 Neptune Ave., Maly found most of the larger baking equipment needed for a business venture like this was already in the kitchen. Maly has borrowed some pots, pans and bowls from a friend, but says, "I literally started this bakery with five dollars in my pocket."

She looks forward to the time when she can afford to have her own facility and storefront.

Although she is not a big "dessert person" herself, she admits her favorite temptation would have to be a big piece of vanilla cake, topped with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Among the most popular items on Maly's menu are her carrot cake, a chilled chocolate-mousse cake and lots of scones, she says.

Desservir also provides specialty desserts for area businesses like Village Pizza in Moodus Plaza, Hilltop BBQ & Steakhouse, Curds & Whey and Snow-Doggies. Each restaurant has individualized specialty desserts.

Orders may be picked up in person, but it is advisable to call first for an appointment, as Maly is also on the road at times, making deliveries.

Both a wholesale and delivery bakery, "It's a bakery that comes to you," Maly says. She takes dessert orders for family gatherings, holiday parties, birthday parties, business meetings, school functions (large or small), home or business.

She will make and deliver each order in town for a $3 charge and will travel anywhere throughout Connecticut for an additional charge, depending on distance.

Place an order by phone at (860) 558-8857 or e-mail JessicaFazzino@yahoo.com.