And by the time you read this, it may be gone. The demo crew is applying its muscle today and taking 'er down, to make way for...a nail salon. Lovely. A little more of what we have too much of. I only hope they have tanning beds, a Subway counter, and sell mobile phones.
I know Lake Forest has been closed for several years, but today's dust isn't settling well with me. It was the first place I was given a free cookie for simply behaving myself; the first place I encountered an airy oddity called a Cream Filled Horn; the place where a jelly doughnut was called a bismarck; and the place I discovered the wonders of Gooey Butter Cake. The only thing creepy about Lake Forest was that the staff was all female, all over 70, all were cranky, and all of them had the same shade of blue hair.
But sometimes blue hair has a silver lining.
Clayton's Bakery & Deli (11744 Manchester in Des Peres) carries a broad line of authentic Lake Forest goodies. Remember the fruit stollens, the Edelweiss cake, the peanut rolls, danish and puff pastry, and of course those Cream Filled Horns? Owner Bill Clayton does--he worked at Lake Forest for 8 years. (Side note: Do you know where Cyrano's gets its flour-dusted mini-muffins, the ones that continue the legacy of its long famous roast beef sandwich? Clayton's Bakery...Lake Forest had been baking them for years.)
Some of Lake Forest's treats can also be purchased at Lake Forest Confections (7801 Clayton, right across the street from the wrecking ball)...items like Gooey Butter Coffee Cake, Deep Dish Butter Coffee Cake, Paradise Coffee Cake, Pecan Crunch Ring, and Black Forest Cake are always available. What many don't know is that LFC is now part of the Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate conglomerate, the folks who were responsible for last years' resurrection of the Mavrakos line of chocolates.
Lake Forest Confections manufactures three different versions of chocolates at that location: the CCC line (the one we recognize from their 8 retail stores), the Lake Forest line, and the Mavrakos line. The latter two are available for sale there. How fun to be able to buy caramels or chocolate turtles made several different ways, all under one roof, plus snag a Gooey Butter Cake...as a peace offering, of course, because I know you never buy enough chocolate to share! --George Mahe
