Meatloaf Bakery

1 Reviews on “Meatloaf Bakery”

• Gourmet Rambler

  Why cant meatloaf be pretty? inquires Cynthia Kallile, the owner of Chicagos own The Meatloaf Bakery, the only place around serving beautiful cupcakes and pastries made out of, well, meatloaf. I stand there, speechless, pondering the question. There is a plate of gorgeous savory bites in front of me that seems to be asking the same thing. Meatloaf? Pretty? Why not?! Granted, those two words never go together. I happen to love meatloaf, it is the ultimate comfort food for me. It brings memories of carefree childhood days and cozy evenings spent at home in chilly Novembers gone by. But pretty? Meatloaf, tasty as it may be, is never pretty. As I feast on several different varieties of Loafies (two-bite treats unique to The Meatloaf Bakery), created with love and dressed up for the occasion, I look over the glass case full of pretty.Cynthia is a powerhouse of ideas. Busy at work on a cookbook, she runs both the bakery and the food truck Meatloaf-A-Go-Go with a firm hand and a cheerful smile. Having spent almost 30 years in marketing, Cynthia is finally doing what she really loves to do: cook. Attributing her love of food to her mothers influence, she proudly serves The Mother Loaf, the original meatloaf recipe topped with mashed potatoes. Cynthia keeps her mothers photo in the shop for inspiration. Isnt she beautiful? Yes, she is beautiful, I can see where Cynthia gets that bright smile of hers. In fact, at The Meatloaf Bakery, I am surrounded by beautiful things. There are photos of weddings and events, featuring various meatloaf creations. There is even a picture of a two-tier meatloaf wedding cake frosted with whipped mashed potatoes. If I didnt know any better, I would mistake it for an actual cake. However, the aromas wafting from the kitchen tell a different story. It smells like comfort here: sauteed onions and garlic, meat caramelizing with herbs and spices. Smells like my kitchen on most days, really.Meatloaf gets the royal treatment at this bakery. On any given day there is a dozen varieties: from the Mother Loaf (beef, pork and veal with onions, ketchup and a special blend of seasonings and herbs, topped with Yukon Smashers with a side of demi-glace), to Yentl Lentl (a gluten-free vegetarian delight of lentils and brown rice flavored with veggies and cheese, topped with colorful bell peppers and served with roasted red bell pepper coulis), to my favorite A Wing And A Prayer (ground chicken with hot and spicy wing sauce, lots of crumbled blue cheese, topped with a blue cheese crust and served with ranch dressing). Buffalo wings without the mess? Sign me up! Omega-3 Loaf is made with wild caught Alaskan salmon. Loaf-A-Roma is basically a giant meatball with bits of mozzarella hidden inside and topped with a gorgeous twist of spaghetti marinara. Every savory cupcake is a complete meal.On a chilly and rainy Friday, a day perfect for eating meatloaf, a friend and I took to the streets in the Meatloaf-A-Go-Go. The truck, painted in pink and yellow swirls, is easy on the eyes too! We rambled around the streets of Chicago, selling dressed up meatloaf. One suit-clad gentleman stopped in his tracks at the sight of our truck. Meatloaf? You sell meatloaf?! This is a total impulse buy, but I have to have it! I love meatloaf! Who doesnt, I say? Enjoy the Mother Loaf, sir! As we tweeted out our locations and posted pictures on Facebook, friends old and new came by to try our savory treats. Only rave reviews from our crowd. Meatloaf-A-Go-Go is a movable party! Fun on a chilly afternoon? Yes, please! Thanks for the ride.As I sat down to write this, I warmed up my last treat from The Meatloaf Bakery: Herby Turkey Loaf made from lean ground turkey with a blend of spices, garlic, red pepper, fresh herbs, and a dusting of aged Parmesan cheese. Crowned with stuffing, and served with cranberry sauce, it made me wonder if I should serve meatloaf for Thanksgiving. I had a side of MacNificent Pasta, a four-cheese macn cheese topped with crunchy panko breadcrumbs. It made me happy. I may just throw a meatloaf party to spread the joy A meatloaf cupcake for every taste? A platter full of Loafies to start? Mashed potatoes bar? Comfort food party, what a concept! After all, Cynthia taught me that meatloaf CAN be pretty. It just needs to dress up a little.NOTES FROM THE RAMBLER: The Meatloaf Bakery just launched a mail order service. Now no one will be deprived of delicious dressed up meatloaf!{This review was originally published on June 5th, 2014}

  July 30, 2015, 11:41 am

  Log in to Reply