7/31/2003 ew York, NY - July, 2003- Pakula's
Bake Shop, the legendary Bronx and Spring Valley, NY, Mecca for the
very best in Eastern European-style baked goods based on 200
year-old family recipes, is returning to New York area specialty
stores and select supermarkets under the name Pakula's Bakery.
Pakula's world-famous Rugelach, the much-loved and very much missed
little pastry twist, once a staple in many households, is the first
product to become available.
Bringing back the famous products that bear his family name is
Andy Pakula, representing the ninth generation to enter the family's
baking dynasty. Forty-four year old Andy is well suited for his new
leadership role as he trades-in his high-profile career as an
advertising executive and computer-Internet-Wunderkind for a
business that uses spatulas and mixing bowls as hardware. More
importantly, Andy is in charge of the family's prized recipes that
have been handed down over 200 years, written on pieces of butter-
and flour-stained paper in Yiddish. Polish, Russian and eventually,
broken English. These prized recipes contain the treasured formulas
for making Rugelach, brownies, crumb, marble, coffee and cheese
cakes, raisin buns, black & whites, breads, and other products
that made the Pakula name famous. Now these much-loved recipes have
been entered in a computer, safe guarded with passwords and secret
codes.
Andy said: "Over my lifetime, no matter where I went in the
world, people who heard my name asked if I was related to the famous
Bronx and Spring Valley Pakula Bake Shop that once produced the
memorable and extraordinary baked goods. We spent a lifetime
building a brand name. Yet it all would have been gone if I didn't
do something to keep it alive." Andy discussed this with his dad,
Ben Pakula, eighth generation and known as the "Leonardo Da Vinci"
of bakers. Andy's idea was to produce the very same products but
they would be distributed to gourmet stores rather than sold in a
single retail shop. Plans were underway but when his father died
suddenly in 2002, the idea of bringing back the family's products
became even more poignant. "This new venture is a fitting homage to
my father as his recipes and instructions have guided me in every
step of production," he said.
Leading the way into retail stores is Pakula's gourmet Rugelach,
offered in six different flavors:
Pakula's Classic Rugelach features Chocolate, Raspberry, and
Apricot Pakula's Nouvelle Rugelach features Mint Chocolate,
Cappuccino, and Apple-Cinnamon.
Pakula's Rugelach is now available at gourmet, specialty stores
and select supermarkets in the New York Metropolitan area including:
FOOD EMPORIUM BRIDGE MARKET, 405 East 59th St. @ First
Ave.
GRACE'S MARKET, 1237 Third Ave. @ 71st St.
CORRADO
BAKERY, Grand Central Station, Lexington Ave. @ 43rd St.
CORRADO
BAKERY, 960 Lexington Ave. @ 70th St.
GARDEN OF EDEN, 7 East 14TH
St. @ 5TH Ave.
GARDEN OF EDEN, 310 3RD Ave., between 23RD and
24th streets
GARDEN OF EDEN, 162 West 23RD St.
GARDEN OF
EDEN, 180 Montague Ave., Brooklyn Heights
BUTTERFIELD MARKET,
Lexington Ave. @ 78th St.
LIKITSAKOS MARKET, Lexington Ave. @
80th St.
FRESH DIRECT, www.freshdirect.com
Pakula's Bakery Rugelach is distributed by Sapori Foods, Jamaica,
NY, GAF Seelig, Queens, New York and InterCounty Bakers in
Lindenhurst, NY.
Prices and Sizes
Pakula's Bakery Rugelach are sold in
individual 8 oz. boxes, 8 pieces to a box; suggested retail price:
$6.99. They also come in 10 lb. pre-bake and baked (thaw and serve)
cases for food service, and are certified kosher.
