B. Ferrante's - Specialty Italian Cookies and Pastry

Sarah Gilmartin and her mother Lucy saw a window open for them when Prish Moran of Sweetness 7 made this store front available. An opportunity to fulfill a long talked of fantasy of opening a specialty shop that served only the finest and most delectable confectionaries and traditional Italian baked goods.

B. Ferrante's is open from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm Wednesday through Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 2 pm at 218 Grant Street across from Westside Stories and behind Sweetness 7 near the corner of Grant and Lafeyette in the Westside of Buffalo.

"Our cookies, pastries, and breads are taken from family recipes that have been handed down throughout the years. All items are baked fresh daily, and are baked in small batches (to ensure freshness and quality) using only the best ingredients. Our commitment to tradition, and to top quality ingredients allows us, at B. Ferrante's, to bring our customer's, what we believe, are exceptional products that you won't find at larger, commercial bakeries."

When I went in this morning, the light streaming in through the exceptionally large glass windows was daydreamy and bucolic. It glanced off the shinning wood and glass cases, making all of the plated sweets and breads luminous.

Unlike many pastry and bread shops, there were plates of pizzettes and sausage rolls and greens rolled into bread. I picked up two cannoli (slivered almonds and chocolate chips) and two of their specialty rolls (salami, capicola, pepperoni, banana peppers and fresh mozzarella).

Here is Sarah preparing my cannoli.

The cream was bitter sweet and sharply earthy - perfect. The hand rolled shells were crisp and buttery.

The dusting of powdered sugar was delicate, Sarah was not heavy handed with it as many other pastry shops tend to be.

 Sitting in the warm glow of sunlight.

Family, inspiration and inspiring, keeps watch like a Roman Ancestor altar.

Layers of color encourage the shopper to linger and chat.

There are sets of hand towels in a basket above a bookcase of pizzelles and scones.

 Crockery, ceramic sculpture and baskets filled with baked goods are well shown, encouraging you to load your bag full.

Chocolate dipped macaroons.

Logs rolled with fig filling and topped with icing and candy pearls.

Customers can order trays of cookies for parties.









I am so glad there is such a fine Italian panetteria within walking distance of home. They will become a fast family favorite! Welcome to the neighborhood!