Like many small businesses, Janie Crawford and Barb Reale's bakery grew out of a hobby.
"When we moved to Pittsburgh, we started making Christmas cookie baskets for friends and coworkers," says Crawford. "When Barb got a serving job at Piper's Pub, they liked our treats so much that they suggested we start making desserts for the restaurant. Soon, customers were asking to order whole cakes."
So in 2010, the two South Siders started ThreeFifty˚ Bakery and Kitchen out of the kitchen at Piper's Pub. ThreeFifty˚ offers its cakes, pies and cookies through its website, and you can pick up your order at Piper's, on East Carson Street. (If you live on the South Side, they'll deliver with a minimum order, advance notice and a $5 delivery fee.)
Crawford says the bakery uses local and organic ingredients whenever possible. "We use timeless flavor combinations that take our customers back to their childhood favorites," explains Crawford.
The pair hopes to open their own shop later this year, but don't count on it to be a typical bakery. "We plan for it to also be a prepared-foods shop," says Reale. "We envision a place where people can pick up a ‘heat and eat' dinner for the family, along with a cake for dessert, and muffins for next morning's breakfast.
"We want to be a place that feels personal, and improves the lives of our customers by offering them quality foods and sweets that are prepared with their needs in mind."
