Harvard resident Sue George was gearing up to celebrate all things chocolate, baked, and sugared this Valentine’s Day at her store, Harvard Sweet Boutique. George, a self-taught baker, worked as a software engineer before deciding to combine her skills and create an Internet based mail-order bakery.
After seven years online, Sue opened her first brick-and-mortar store last year. Her shop, located at 25 South Street in Hudson, smells of whipped chocolate and caramelized sugar, and it features newly installed pink and white polka dot lights hanging from the ceiling. “It’s been so fun to work with the public,” says George. “I am meeting people in person who have been my online customers.”
She has a staff of 10 employees, many of whom graduated from prestigious culinary institutes. George has expanded her retail store to include breakfast pastries, muffins and cinnamon buns, homemade soups and breads, and items from local vendors.
George plans on turning out heart- shaped French macaroons, heart cookies, cake pops, napoleons, truffles, and brownies. “What else do we have planned for Valentine’s Day?” she asks her French pastry chef, who is busy fitting a custom cake topped with iced flowers into a pink box. “We can do anything! I like to come here early and just play around and make new recipes.” “We like to wing it!” George says brightly before greeting a customer by name.
Harvard Sweet Boutique is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pricing and menus are available online at harvardsweetboutique.com.
