Mangiafico's Pastry Shoppe

Since moving up here, one of the things we've enjoyed most is the opportunity to experience different cultures through locally owned shops and restaurants. When we first moved into our apartment, Sarah's dad and stepmom gave us a package of coffee and a tray of delicious cookies from their favorite Italian bakery, Mangiafico's Pastry Shoppe, in Plainville, Connecticut. Sarah's dad was headed to Mangiafico's today to pick up an assortment of pastries for Christmas and invited us to tag along since we had yet to visit this family owned bakery. There still was a lot of snow on the ground from yesterday's storm, but that didn't prevent us or the other Mangiafico's customers from venturing out for the Italian sweets. What a delight for the senses! From the moment we walked into the bakery, we knew we had already consumed a few calories just by breathing in the almond scented air. The bakery was full of vibrant, colorful confections, many of which we had never seen before. Of course, there was a line, but we didn't mind since it gave Sarah time to take some photographs of the beautiful pastries and cookies. We even sampled a few of their creations while waiting for Sarah's dad to place his order for his holiday cookies. This caloric excursion was a perfect match for the cold winter day!