Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop
Tracy Bellman began baking wedding cakes as a hobby 20 years ago. Then, about 11 years ago, she decided to turn her hobby into a full-time career and launched a business from her home kitchen. Then, in February 2013, she took an even bigger step, and opened a retail shop — called “Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop” — in the heart of Reading’s Bridal District.
Bellman says she got her love for baking honestly. “I still use my great aunt Rita’s cheesecake recipe,” she says. “From the time I was six or seven years old, I was making all my aunts and uncles little light bulb cakes in my Holly Hobby oven.”
As an art student, Bellman loves the hands-on, creative aspect of decorating. In fact, of all the jobs she’s held in life, Bellman says her favorite job of all is combining baking and decorating to make all kinds of different creations for her friends and family.
When you visit Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop you’ll enjoy a fun, quirky and creative environment. “We love playing with flavor combinations and finding new ingredients to incorporate into our cakes and other desserts,” says Bellman.
She adds that one of the biggest things is that they focus on not taking themselves too seriously. “For example, we made Valentine’s Day cookies that said things like ‘I tolerate you,’ ‘Meh,’ ‘You’re Ugly’ and ‘You’ll Do,’” Bellman laughs. “They were a big it. A little irreverent? Sure, but that’s how we like it.”
Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop started primarily as a wedding cakery but they’ve since expanded to do custom cakes and a wide variety of other desserts to fit every occasion. In fact, with the rise of dessert buffets at weddings and events, Bellman says they’ve added a large selection of mini desserts.
At Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop you’ll find decorated cookies, French macarons, cereal bars, donuts, strudels, cannoli, buckeyes, bourbon balls, granola, s’mores, cake pops, caramel apples, pies, tarts and much more.
Bellman says that if someone wanted, they could rent out the shop for a small get together or party. There’s a private party space where Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop hosts baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, business functions and cupcake decorating parties. “There’s a full commercial kitchen and the shop is able to cater any type of event,” Bellman explains.
Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop is more than just a cakery, though. Bellman says the cafe offers delicious light lunch options with sandwiches, soups, salads and stuffed croissants. “We recently started offering a Sunday Brunch,” says Bellmans.
And for those of you who like your sweets with a swig of caffeine, you can choose from a full selection of espresso drinks, coffee, tea and smoothies. Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop works with a local coffee roaster to custom blend a variety of coffees exclusively for the store. “We make our own chai tea in-house, and, of course, there are always lots and lots of sweets,” she says.
Tres Belle Cakes and Coffee Shop is located at 400 West Benson Street in the Reading Bridal District. To learn more, visit www.tresbellecakes.com. You can also “like” them on Instagram.
