”Well, we`ve had our 15 minutes of fame,” said Matthew Clarke, holding up pictures of the six-tier cake that he and wife Leone created last September for a Barrington Hills wedding so elaborate that it rated a feature story in the local papers.
Usually, though, what the Clarkes bake is more down to earth: a standard variety of breads, sweet rolls, cookies and cakes made on the premises with the good, basic ingredients found in any home kitchen.
Everything about Clarkes Cakes and Pastries in Barrington is homey, in fact, from the lace curtains on the windows to the Clarkes` daughters-Stacey, 3 1/2, and Kathrine, 9 months-playing in the back. Leone`s mother, Marilyn, and Matthew`s brother Dermot round out the family business, which the Clarkes opened five years ago.
The couple met while both were employed by the Marriott Corp. in Schaumburg. Matthew had served an apprenticeship as a pastry chef on the East Coast after moving from his native Ireland; Leone, who grew up in Mt. Prospect, learned the food business while working for an area butcher shop. They pooled their talents and opened the bakery, Leone picking up such arts as rosette-making from Matthew while instructing him on the finer points of pricing and customer relations.
As the frequently jangling bell over the front door attests, the collaboration seems to have worked well.
Though not immune from the current economic downturn, the Clarkes have found a way to hold the bottom line without sacrificing the quality of their product, and that is through the addition of deli sandwiches (running $2.99 to $3.29 and including coleslaw or potato salad) and cooked-from-scratch soup or chili. The sandwiches and soups are available for eat-in or carry-out.
”What`s really helped us out is the deli,” Matthew said, noting that their concept had always included having a bakery/cafe.
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Clarkes Cakes and Pastries, 130 W. Northwest Highway, Barrington (across the street from Ace Hardware) is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Phone 708-381-5113.
