I am writing to let you know that our Post Oak location will be closing on Wednesday, October 31, 2012.

In anticipation of our lease being up for renewal this year, our company took the opportunity to pause and search our heart about where Dessert Gallery has been the last five years and where we want to be in the future. That soul-searching is what lead us to the decision to close Post Oak in order to recommit our resources to doing what we love most: making the best desserts in Houston and creating a special environment for you to share them with the people you love.

As we embark on our 18th year of business, we have lots of exciting changes in store for our Kirby location! Think of it as a sort of “Extreme Makeover: Kirby Edition.” In the months ahead we’ll be updating our look, our café menu, our coffee service and more.

Effective November 1, ALL orders previously scheduled for pickup at our Post Oak location should instead be picked up at our flagship store at 3600 Kirby Dr. (corner of Kirby Drive and Richmond Avenue), your one-stop-shop for celebrating sweet excess!

Thank you so much for your continued support. I look forward to a wonderful holiday season and an exciting 2013!

Lots more to come…
Sara

(October 2012) The road to the White House is a sweet one, no matter who wins this November’s election. Republicans, Democrats and Independents are voting with their taste buds by purchasing their candidate cookie of choice at Dessert Gallery. Where else can you cast your vote and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time?!

While this sugar rush continues, pastry loving populists can track the results through our Weekly Facebook Cookie Poll. Every Monday morning throughout the campaign, check the Dessert Gallery Facebook page to find out if customers are sweeter on Obama or Romney, or simply the political process itself.

This is the second election in which Dessert Gallery has lobbied for customers to follow their tummies. The first was in 2008, when Dessert Gallery accurately predicted the next president as Barack Obama through cookie sales.

While Dessert Gallery remains impartial, we recognize the presidential election is a hot-out-of-the-oven topic and we endorse freedom of choice. Loyal DG constituents may purchase delicious homemade Gourmet Graphic™ sugar cookies decorated with either political party logo, the Obama logo, Romney logo or a Rock the Vote logo. All are available through the first Tuesday in November.

Unlike traditional campaign managers, our cookie pan-dits agree on this:

• Buying votes is encouraged, especially by the dozen.
• Kids’ votes go better with milk.
• Victory and defeat can taste equally sweet.
• Desserts are bipartisan.
• If your candidate concedes, that’s just the way the cookie crumbles!

Dessert Gallery is an imaginative dessert emporium that features a phenomenal array of cakes, pies, cupcakes, cheesecakes, brownies and cookies, all presented in sleek settings where video monitors reveal yummy secrets from the Dessert Gallery kitchen. The kitchen also prepares a variety of sandwiches, salads and wraps, and a rotating menu of daily specials.

Dessert Gallery is located at 3600 Kirby Dr. (77098), 713.522.9999 and 1616 Post Oak Blvd. (77056), 713.622.0007. Plus, Dessert Gallery can ship nationwide. To see a menu and for more information, visit www.dessertgallery.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Houston (June, 2012) – Dessert Gallery Bakery & Café is proud to unveil our latest exhibit: Gallery Party Cakes. These delicious works of art are the perfect finale to any special occasion. 

“Our customers have been requesting decorated cakes for quite some time,” says Sara Brook, Founder/Owner of Dessert Gallery Bakery & Café.  “We have 12 different designs on display right now which include a variety of options for flavors, sizes and decorations.” 

Visit the website at www.dessertgallery.com and click on Gallery Party Cakes. This will take you straight to the art gallery with images of every new cake we have to offer. 

Since 1995, Dessert Gallery Bakery & Café has been known for imaginative and whimsical desserts. The new line of party cakes is no exception. Consider just a few of the names we have available: Candyland, Wild Thang, A-B-C, Princess Party, Play Ball, La Vida Loca and Oh, Baby!  Most Gallery Party Cakes are available in various sizes, shapes and colors and they can serve anywhere from 6 to 60.  Included in the line of decorated cakes is Happy Anniversary, for celebrating your first or your 50^th, and every year of wedded bliss in between. 

Wedding cakes are another exciting masterpiece in our new collection. Customers can work directly with Dessert Gallery Pastry Chef, Jaime Acosta to design and create the wedding cake of their dreams. 

With Gourmet Graphics™, customers can adorn cakes, cupcakes and cookies with their own photos and logo designs. Our new cake, Picture Perfect, allows matching decorative accents to Gourmet Graphics™ cakes making them extra special. 

 “Because we are so excited about these cakes,” says Sara, “We are offering a 20% discount if you place your order by July 31.” 

In addition to the wide array of sweets, the kitchen prepares and caters a variety of sandwiches, salads, wraps, box lunches and party trays. Follow us on facebook, twitter, flikr and be the first in line when the cookies come out of the oven!

- 30 -

What is your favorite travel activity? You know, the one thing you HAVE to do/see wherever you go no matter what?! Maybe you’re a shopper, or a museum lover, or a hiker or something?? It’s probably no big surprise, but I have GOT to get to a bakery before I can even unpack my bags! This isn’t anything new. I’ve had this affliction for as long as I can remember.

When I visit bakeries in other cities, I don’t seek out the flashiest, trendiest shop in town. I want to know who makes the best chocolate chip cookie! To me, THAT’s the real test of a great bakery! If they can’t turn out an awesome chocolate chunk cookie, then I really don’t need to try anything else. Know what I mean? Next comes the brownie(s) – are they rich? Cake-y? Do they have nuts? Chunks of chocolate? Other add-ins? After those two standards, I’m a little more flexible. What are they famous for? What are they proud of? Which dessert has a special history?

I recently went to Seattle to visit my daughter, Jen – of Jennifer’s Birthday Cake fame, natch – and she was kind enough to take me to every single stop on my well-researched list of Seattle bakeries. Here are a few that stuck out -
• Nouveau Bakery – WOW – how do they turn out such an amazing assortment of breads and sweets in a kitchen no bigger than my closet? Beautiful French pastries, croissants and such. Four or five display cases filled to the top!
• A La Mode Pies – I’m not much of a pie girl, but these were some of the best pies I’ve ever had. Magnificent crust with a wide variety of fabulous fillings.
• Cupcake Royale – the cupcakes were lovely, but I have to wonder if the owner’s mom knows they sell t-shirts with sayings like “I’m a Frostitute” and “Legalize Frostitution”?
• Trophy Cupcakes – cute place, great packaging, fun accessories; the cupcakes were good for breakfast one morning.
• Sugar Rush Bakery – I saw some beautiful cupcakes, but the rest of the cupboards were bare at the time I visited. Based on what I saw, I would definitely go back for another look at a busier time.
• Fresh Flours – Japanese-inspired pastries and cupcakes

I also visited the Theo Chocolate Factory while I was there. They give a great tour! I saw some humongous vats of chocolate, but I was amazed at how small their production line was! My favorite part was the decorating room. This is where they hand-decorated all the delicious truffles and specialty confections for sale in their showroom. I was so engrossed in watching them work, I didn’t realize I had crossed the “Sacred Yellow Line” and was in an area that is strictly off limits to visitors. Woops.

Until next time….

Sweet dreams!

Currently available only at our Post Oak store, located at 1616 Post Oak Boulevard, we always have 12 different flavors to choose from (feel free to try a few with our sample spoons), and 25 flavors served on a rotating basis.

We will offer four Dessert Gallery (DG) flavors you won’t find anywhere else. We  purchase our gelato from Gelato Blu of Houston and, working closely with the company, we have created the following unique Gallery Gelato flavors which will be part of the flavor rotation:

• DG Red Velvet with cream cheese background
• DG Peanut Butter Truffles with peanut butter background
• DG Schneider’s Kitchens Toffee with butter pecan background
• DG World’s Best Brownies with cookie dough background

You are welcome to relax in our cafe with your Gallery Gelato, or take it with you. It is available in the following sizes:

Pint – $8.95                Small (4oz.) – $3.95              Large (6oz.) – $4.75

Gelato is the Italian word for “ice cream.” However, gelato is made with less high fat cream. The result is a frozen desert with up to 1/3 less calories and fat than regular American ice cream and a smooth, creamy consistency.

 -30-

It’s ironic that over the years, nearly all of our Passover desserts have ended up on our regular everyday menu. Not because they met the dietary needs of people who couldn’t have flour, but because they TASTE great!!!

At some point this week, someone asked me why we refer to our Passover desserts as “flourless” rather than “gluten-free” since “gluten-free” is more common. It would certainly be easier for marketing purposes, but it would be misleading and could even be dangerous to someone who is seriously allergic to gluten.

If someone is merely gluten intolerant, it is probably fine for them to have our flourless desserts. If someone is seriously allergic to gluten, however, they should not be eating anything prepared in our kitchen or in anyone else’s kitchen for that matter unless they are certain that there is absolutely no trace of gluten on site! Given that our kitchen will always have plenty of flour on hand, we will never be able to claim any of our products to be “gluten-free,” but it is certainly appropriate and safe to call them “flourless.”

No matter what holiday you are celebrating in the next few days, we are honored to know that our desserts are a special part of your family’s traditions this weekend and throughout the year!

Sweet dreams….

Sara

As we approach the Passover holiday, dessert lovers should consider this as

the 5th Question at their Seder:

 What do you get when you combine the handmade

desserts of two nice Jewish Houston girls?

 Answer: Talk Of The Town Toffee Cake!

Made with love, fresh cream, ganache, chocolate soufflé layers and handmade toffee from Schneider Kitchens Toffee sprinkled atop and throughout, this newest delicious delight is the perfect finale to your Passover Seder…and what everyone is sure to be talking about this spring.

The combination of Dessert Gallery Diva, Sara Brook’s flair for creative, one-of-a-kind decadent desserts and Susan Schneider’s super secret succulent toffee recipe was preordained destiny. “We have been friends for years,” says Sara. “We have been sharing Shabbat dinners monthly, along with our respective passions for baking. This  marriage of ingredients was beshert…totally meant to be!”

Sara Brook and Susan Schneider have taken unique paths to their own successful commercial kitchens, and both women bring their sense of family inspiration and support into the mix. When Dessert Gallery Bakery & Café opened its doors for business in 1995, Sara employed  her mishpucha…including mother and grandmother.  Sixteen-plus years, three locations and 50 employees later…Sara’s dad, Eddie Brook, continues to work with his youngest daughter in her business.

Susan Schnieder’s love of cooking was passed on from her mother. “She was a wonderful baker,” says Susan. “Known for her cookies, there was always a freezer full to munch on.” Susan has had a long-time career in kitchen design and had been making this toffee for family and friends for years with everyone telling her she should sell it. She finally took the compliments seriously, began renting space in a commercial kitchen and started selling her first batches last year.

The Talk Of The Town Toffee Cake will be tof-feetured as the Dessert of the Month throughout April. As with all Dessert Gallery treats, this cake may be purchased at both cafés, online or over the phone. Plus, decoratively packaged bags and tins of Schneider Kitchens Toffee will join the Dessert Gallery repertoire of gift items for sale at both retail locations.

“For the sake of toffee lovers everywhere, we are especially excited to introduce the Talk Of The Town Toffee Cake as our newest menu item,” says Sara. ” We are very happy about our partnership with Schneider Kitchens and believe this cake will become another must-have dessert at our customers’ life-cycle events and holiday celebrations.”

I’ve been baking practically since I was born, and have been fortunate to have been able to make a career out of my very favorite thing since I graduated from the University of Texas in 1983. I started two other dessert-related businesses, but Dessert Gallery is my third and my favorite. Probably because it’s the most chocolate-y, the most purple-y, it’s where I raised my daughter, and because of all the personal attachments I’ve formed over the years with long-time employees, customers and vendors.

I have so many things I want to tell you, I hardly know where to get started! I want to tell you about my kitchen, favorite recipes, being a single mom in business for myself, our work in the community, following your passion and whatever else strikes me (or YOU!) along the way. I’m new at this blogging “thing” so bear with me.

Most importantly, let’s have fun getting to know each other and see where this will lead us. Until next time, be sure to click on the link on the bottom left side of our home page (hint – look for the FAMOUS PURPLE MIXER!) and watch the video from our kitchen. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it!

Sweet Dreams….
Sara

The Jewish Herald-Voice is spotlighting Jewish entrepreneurial women each month. Nominate a mom, sister, daughter, aunt, grandmother, friend or associate who is a Jewish woman business owner in the greater Houston area. Email nominations (including name, business and contact info) to: jewishwoman@jhvonline.com.

Just walking into one of the Dessert Gallery locations, you immediately notice the sweet aroma in the air. The sweetness, you might think, is from the pastry. But, in reality, it’s from the founder, Sara Brook.

Brook left Houston to attend college at UT, only to find herself back in Houston, baking up a storm. With no formal business training, she became self-reliant and resilient. Fear and planning were not ingredients when Brook thought about starting her business in her parents’ kitchen. It may have been the Girl Scout cookie sales, or possibly the Easy Bake Oven set Brook played with as a child, that led her into the world of desserts. Out of the family kitchen, she created a nationally marketed chocolate sauce. As a young adult, Brook’s baking took on its own life. With multiple Houston retail locations and Internet sales, customers’ enjoyment is only moments away.

Growing up in Houston, Brook learned about the essence of Judaism: family, community and volunteerism. She relished her involvement in BBYO and watching her parents’ work at Congregation Emanu El (mother Davna, as Sisterhood president, and father, Eddie Brook, the temple president).

The women in Brook’s family were strong, loving and courageous. The entrepreneur attributes much of her success to those values. The multigenerational picture, proudly displayed in the corporate office, shows it best: her grandmother, Florence Blum, her mother, Davna, and her daughter, Jennifer. Ironically for the baker, her father, a staunch supporter of her ventures, is a dentist. Her early memories of her grandmother, Mammaw, celebrating the Jewish holidays at home, directly impacted Brook’s career. Mammaw loved bringing people together and Brook’s desserts helped her follow in that path.

As a self-defined, “old-fashioned mother,” Brook never factored in the complications of being both a single mother and a business owner. But, Brook has an absolute faith that things always work out the way they are supposed to. This belief has helped her in the most challenging of situations. “Things are always less frightening than they really are,” she said. Brook’s daughter lives with this “no fear” approach, traveling around the world, seeking new adventures. The limitlessness that Brook exudes is empowering. Brook clears paths, enabling all that she encounters to have bigger dreams. Who knew that you could get all this from an éclair?

Dessert Gallery has welcomed more than 60 employees, many of whom are displaced refugees from war-torn countries. As an advocate for the YMCA Refugee Resettlement program, the Dessert Gallery found a common language: caring. Dessert Gallery looks like a business, but after closer inspection, it’s really a family. Touching peoples’ lives, creating a sense of safety, allowing people to grow and prosper: This is what Brook’s business plan really reads.

Dessert Gallery’s future is focusing on creating delicious treats that are safe to our bodies and our planet. Using both eco-friendly packaging, coupled with body-friendly ingredients, devoid of chemicals and hormone-based ingredients, Dessert Gallery’s growth and success are inevitable.

It is said, “You are what you eat,” but at The Dessert Gallery, “You are what you bake.” Sara Brook is One Smart Cookie.