Newport gets Sweet and Saucy
Newport is set to get even sweeter this summer with the opening of Sweet and Saucy Shop at the Crystal Cove Promenade.
“We’re shooting for the beginning of June and it looks like we’re on track for that to happen,” said Eileen Francabandera, who co-owns the shop along with her daughter Melody Brandon.
It’s the second location for the Long Beach-based bakery, known for its beautiful, modern, custom cakes, cupcakes, cake lollipops, cookies and mini desserts that are a favorite with celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Miley Cyrus, LeAnn Rimes and Tori Spelling.
“Our clients were pulling us in one direction or another,” Francabandera said about choosing where to open its second shop. “We ended up in Orange County because of our loyal and faithful customers.”
The Crystal Cove Promenade shop will be an expanded version of its Long Beach store, with a seating area and more daily dessert offerings, including its mini desserts like mini key lime pies, mini s’mores tarts and shot glasses filled with cappuccino cheesecake, chocolate mousse, lemon cream and more, she said.
The shop also will have wedding cake consultants who will put tastings together for brides-to-be as well as other dessert tastings, such as the mini dessert bar, for party and event planners, Francabandera said.
Individual mini desserts range from $1.50 to $3.25, with custom cakes and dessert prices varied.
Sweet and Saucy Shop will be near the Jenny Lee Bridal boutique at Crystal Cove Promenade.
“That kind of caught our eye and we thought that would be a good marriage between the two of us,” she said.
Sweet and Saucy Shop counts about 16 to 20 employees, and some may shift to the Newport Coast shop, according to Francabandera. Hiring details are still being worked out, she added.
As for more shop openings, Francabandera said they are taking it slow.
“We started this shop [in Long Beach] about three years ago and it’s just exploded,” she said. “We’ve tried to keep up [with demand]. This is the next move for that. It’s really encouraging to see how people have been excited about our desserts.
“And of course, they have to taste as good as they look.”
For pictures and more information, visit sweetandsaucyshop.com.
alisha.gomezberman@latimes.com
Twitter: @TheDailyPilot