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The Country Baker
With a menu filled with everything from cakes and cookies to bagels and breads,The Country Baker has quickly become one of the area’s most popular patisseries. Here’s why.
By: Ken McEnteeDate: 02/03/2010
Christine Gilbert really puts her heart into baking. That’s why it’s fitting that the first anniversary of The Country Baker, of Medina, falls so close to Valentine’s Day.
Since she and her husband, Bob, moved from their home kitchen to a storefront in Medina’s Reserve Square Plaza on February 7, 2009, success has been as sweet as the 30,000 traditional holiday cookies they sold in just two weeks during the Christmas holidays.
“The support we’ve had from the community has been overwhelming,” smiles Christine, who is now expanding
The Country Baker’s hours to meet the early morning demand. “We’re now open at 7:30 in the morning (until 6 o’clock) due to the demand for breakfast. We’re adding a variety of doughnuts, bagels and muffins.”
Like the holiday cookies and bakery that kept the phone ringing like holiday bells, Christine’s doughnuts, bagels, and muffins are all made fresh daily from scratch, using real ingredients like Grandma used to use.
“We will always have cream sticks and chocolate frosted donuts, but from day to day there will also be a variety of other types of doughnuts, too,” she promises.
The Country Baker now offers fresh plain, blueberry and “everything” bagels that include onion, poppy seed, sesame seed, and garlic.
“We have a delicious assortment of traditional blueberry, cranberry and cinnamon streusel muffins as well,” Christine notes.
Grabbing some breakfast bakery and some “Jo to go” is a delicious way to beat the morning rush. And, if you’re really in a hurry, call ahead for tomorrow and your order will be waiting for you when you get there.
The Country Baker is a full-service bakery that offers everything from cinnamon rolls to wedding cakes to pies to freshly baked breads.
Christine admits that the first year in a retail location has exceeded her expectations.
“We’ve never done anything like this and it has worked out so well,” she says. It makes us feel like we must be doing something right.”
Something right is offering traditional, old-style bakery, made from scratch with ingredients like real butter and cream cheese.
“I think a lot of people really appreciate tradition,” she says. “Before we opened, there really wasn’t a traditional bakery in the area. We opened at a time when people are getting back to tradition.”
In 2008, the year before she moved to Reserve Square Plaza, Christine created 110 wedding cakes at home.
Now, along with custom-designed cakes for weddings and other occasions, The Country Baker offers a new case with ready-to-go cakes for last minute planners.
“I’ve had so many people come into the store and say that they need a cake right away,” Christine explains. “I always suggest that people call in advance for birthday cakes and cakes for other special occasions so they can get them customized with the exact flavor and design they want. But for those times when you’re in a pinch, we will always have a small selection of freshly made cakes that are all ready to go. We can even personalize them really quick.”
The cakes include traditional eight-inch round cakes and some single-layer cakes. A selection of ready-to-go gourmet cupcakes also are available.
“During various holidays we’ll offer themed cakes, like for Valentine’s Day,” Christine promises.
A perfect Valentine’s Day gift, she says, is an assortment of mini cupcakes and The Country Baker’s special cake truffles neatly packaged in a heart-shaped box.
Christine is starting a new tradition with the popular cake truffles—little cake balls dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with coconut, nuts or a variety of other coverings.
“They sell like crazy,” she says. “Holiday and seasonal truffles are available and they make excellent shower and wedding favors.”
In fact, the treats are so popular that Christine has given them their own website, called “For The Love of Truffles.”
“After creating decadent cake truffles to sell at the bakery we quickly realized what an interest our customers had in them,” she says. “We have a variety of flavors to satisfy your sweet tooth, including seasonal favorites.”
The Country Baker is also offering Valentine’s Day cookies and some regular-sized Valentine’s Day cupcakes as well.
Along with bakery, The Country Baker serves wraps and sandwiches that make great lunches.
“Our tuna salad, chicken salad, and hummus are all homemade and served in a wrap or on our fresh-baked bread,” she says. “We also serve a variety of soups, made daily, which are perfect for the winter.”
“A few new sandwiches have been added to the lunch menu, including egg salad and a vegetarian wrap, Christine announces.”
When you stop in to select your Valentine’s Day treats, grab a muffin for breakfast, or enjoy a hot, healthy lunch, be sure to browse the in-store country market that features baskets and jewelry made by local vendors.
“Soon we’ll be adding some cake- and candy-making supplies,” Christine reveals. “We’ll carry Merckens melting chocolates, molds, candles, cupcake papers, and other accessories.”
And, for those who still can’t get enough of Christine’s old-fashioned holiday cookies, she says a small selection of them will be available throughout the year. “That’s due to popular demand,” Christine says. “Halfway through January people were still coming in and asking whether we had those holiday cookies.”
And now, they do.
The Country Baker is located at 3597 Medina Road (Route 18), in Medina. You can call 330-725-2308 or 330-723-2400. You can also visit The Country Baker online at www.thecountry-baker.com. Visit Christine’s cake truffle website at www.cake-truffles.com. The Country Baker is open Monday, noon to 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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