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| - So often you read mentions of local "hidden gems" on Yelp. What to do then when you actually find a hidden gem? A gem that really is local and hidden. Literally! My solution? Recognize one's limitations as a reviewer and embrace the clique! Did I mention Sugar Jam Bake Shop is a hidden gem?
IT'S HIDDEN: I've driven by Sugar Jam Bake Shop dozens of times and never knew it was there. Only a booth at a street fair and a follow up investigation on Yelp led to this lunch visit. Sugar Jam is located in an aging office building near the Scottsdale airport (NW corner of Hayden & Redfield Roads). No real signage on Redfield Road other than temporary placards placed outside to try to attract your attention. Parking is in the rear. Enter through a shaded courtyard. Once inside? Charming. Charming. Charming.
IT'S A GEM: Dana, the owner, greeted us at the counter as we came in on this day and then later came over to check up on us and chat. Nice. This gave us a chance to ask about the upcoming (10/1/2015) change in lunch menu. Fear not. Dana's baked goods will remain untouched, but she's bringing in "Phil the Grill", a "Pitmaster Chef", as "seen on Chopped", to enhance lunch offerings with pulled pork mac and cheese and the like. Sounds promising, particularly in light of how good the menu already is.
Our lunch items, a turkey Panini and a mac and cheese with salad, were both great. Don't know though if they'll make the cut for the new menu. You can order bagged lunches to go if you like. We, however, dined in. It's just too cute a spot for us not to. Seating is limited. Some folks were settled in studying for school and reading newspapers while sipping from oversized coffee cups. Regarding dessert, every baked good we have tried has been fantastic. The namesake sugar jam cookies were a delight at the street fair. I was expecting a petrified jam-like substance adhered to stale sugar cookies. Instead, the jam was fresh and the cookies soft. Delightful. We had some again today. Small fruit pies were also flakey and flavorful. Not too sweet. Not too tart. Perfect. I'm anxious to try other pies, like the pecan sweet potato. I'm just going to have to return to Sugar Jam again and again and again until I've sampled the entire baked good menu. A sacrifice I know.
Sugar Jam does bake in quantity for special events. A multi pack of a specialty chocolate mousse, making me rethink the concept of a twelve pack, was being readied for pick up as we were leaving. Dana showed it to us when she overheard us expressing interest. I would have liked an invite to that party.
IT'S LOCAL: Sugar Jam is the very definition of a small local business deserving of local support. Hours are limited, open only M-F 8:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. as of this date, but I suspect they might expand hours with the change in season and/or menu. I hope so. I've now sampled Sugar Jam twice. Met the owner Dana twice. Met the owner's husband once. Know a bit about their kids. Feel a little like I know them, or at least know them well enough to want to support their endeavor. Planning on becoming a regular. You should too. If you can find this hidden gem!
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