Sarah's
Chicago native Sarah Levy developed a passion for all things sweet at an early age. Inspired by the joy that delicious food can bring to peoples’ lives, Sarah founded Sarah’s Pastries & Candies. Sarah started her company in March 2004 by making chocolate candies out of her mom’s kitchen.
After a year she had built up a wholesale business that included Whole Foods Markets in the Midwest, and smaller gourmet grocery shops such as Olivia’s Market, Southport Grocery and East Bank Club. Sarah launched her first retail store at 11 E. Oak St. in September 2005 and expanded her line to include morning pastries, specialty and wedding cakes, tarts, chocolate gift baskets, espresso drinks and other delectable pastries. She has since moved to a larger location at 70 E. Oak St. and opened a second location inside of the Macy’s on State Street (street level) in November 2007.
Sarah has been featured on Chicago’s 190 North, WGN Lunch Break, ABC and NBC morning news, and Eye on Chicago television show, and has also been featured in Better Homes and Garden, BRIDES (America’s most beautiful wedding cake issue – Sarah’s Pastries was the only cake out of the 23 chosen from Chicago), Elegant Bride, Complete Woman Magazine, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Time Out Chicago and other publications. Sarah has been the dining editor for Today’s Chicago Woman since April, 2005. In 2007, Sarah was honored to receive the 2007 YWCA Promise Award. Sarah launched her first cookbook, Sweetness, Delicious Baked Treats for Every Occasion, in October, 2009 (Surrey books). In 2010 she was nominated for a Jean Banchet award for “celebrity pastry chef.” Sarah’s pastries & Candies is a certified WBE (women’s business enterprise). Sarah has trained at several of the country’s top restaurants and bakeries, including Spago Beverly Hills (where she apprenticed under the James Beard Award winning pastry chef Sherry Yard) and Bittersweet Bakery in Chicago. Sarah is a graduate of Northwestern University, French Pastry School of Chicago and Francis W. Parker
