Three Things: Pastry Shop Edition

I came across Wayne Thiebaud’s Bakery Counter (below) again recently, and was reminded of an Italo Calvino short story that takes place in a bakery: “Theft in a Pastry Shop.”

In the story, three small-time thieves break into a shop at night to raid the till. Baby, the smallest and most agile of the three, is sent in first through the back window, unaware of the kind of shop he’s breaking into. In the pitch black, Baby slowly realizes he’s found himself in paradise.

At once he began licking the hand, and groping around with the other at the same time. It touched something solid but soft, with a thin covering of fine sugar—a doughnut! Still groping, he popped the whole of it in his mouth and gave a little cry of pleasure on discovering it had jam inside. This really was the most wonderful place; whatever way he stretched out his hand in the dark, it found new kinds of cakes.

Now, I’m not a cake or doughnut person. In fact, I’m not a huge dessert person in general. (Pies are an exception. And custards. Yeah, OK, maybe I do like dessert.) But unexpectedly finding oneself in the middle of a free-for-all, cream-filled heaven? Even I could appreciate that. I’ll let you finish the story yourself, but in the meantime, here’s a confection collection to help inspire your own pastry-centered story.

Now excuse me while I pour myself another cup of coffee to cut through this sugar.

Wayne Thiebaud, Bakery Counter, 1962. Oil on canvas. Private collection.

“Pie eating contest at Tidal Basin bathing beach.” July 31, 1921, Washington, D.C. National Photo Company Collection glass negative. via Shorpy.

Amy Stevens, Confections (adorned) #15. Photograph. www.amystevensart.com

P.S. Open Mic! This week! Submit your work-in-progress! Yes!