Yorktown's Heights Bakery and Cafe Holds Kids Birthday Parties in Own Kitchen

Kristin Pettinato, 11, and ten of her fifth grade friends from St. Patrick’s School in Yorktown made their own cupcakes, frosted and decorated them in a professional baker's kitchen on Sunday, April 3. 

That's because Kristin had her birthday party at in Yorktown. The bakery offers a Make-It-and-Take-It Cupcake Party, complete with aprons, cake, assorted decorations, “Pin the Candle on the Cupcake” and balloon wishes. The birthday child chooses a theme and color combination.

Under the professional guidance of owners Valerie Gaglione and Nan Crocker, The guests get to work on frosting and sprinkling and sparkling and spraying. When work was done, the balloons were launched and every child felt gratifyingly creative, the cupcakes were boxed to be taken home. And there was also a gift for every guest.

"It's something different," Crocker said of their vision to host birthday parties. "It's a new and fresh idea."

Gaglione said children are very creative with what they do back in the kitchen and are able to express that. If they need help with their pastry project, she said she shows them how to properly do it and teaches them with patience. When the children go home, she said their parents are often impressed with the final outcome and don't believe the children have made a cupcake or cake all by themselves. 

"It's innovative and a completely different twist of a birthday party," Crocker said.

At her party, Kristin's choice of colors was purple and blue. 

Guest Callista Lang, from North Salem, based her designs on her romance with singer and teenage pop-star Justin Bieber. The first cupcake represents Justin as a single guy; the second cupcake illustrates his happiness once he has met Callista, she said. And the final one?

"Mrs. Bieber," Callista said. "I’m married to him and we’re living happily ever after."

Sarah Solazzo, a 10-year-old from Somers, made one for her brother, one for her sister, and one for herself. And Kristin’s sister, Kelly, a 12-year-old from Yorktown, chose purple sprinkles because “purple is Justin’s favorite color.” She decorated her apron with the date of Bieber's birthday -- down to the second he was born.

Owners Jim and Nan Crocker, along with their lifelong friend Valerie Gaglione,  together for three years, although the bakery itself has been a neighborhood fixture for more than thirty years.

The partners run a variety of special children’s events, including a dessert class and Girl Scout and Boy Scout badge-earning classes. In addition, they serve breakfast and lunch and do catering. Every Saturday they hold a baking and decorating course. On April 17 they're having an Easter decorating class.

Gaglione grew up in the Bronx where she said she was known from her early teens as "The Morris Park Cookie Queen." Many of her were passed down from her grandmother.

Crocker she spent 25 years as a private investigator, who is now retired as she concentrates on the business aspects of the bakery. Her husband and co-owner was a career corrections officer with the Westchester County Jail.

The Heights Bakery and Cafe is located in the shopping center on the corner of Crompond Road and Route 118 in Yorktown Heights. For more information call 914-962-0190. 

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