Mr. Weil, Fantasia, Blums and me
It was one of those marvelous life moments when you realize that all the stars, moons and planets have somehow aligned themselves in your favor. There I was, sitting with Ernest Weil and his charming daughters, sipping tea and eating his famous Florentines and Almond Macaroons which he had baked just for us. A little background: Mr. Weil is the man who created the Coffee Crunch Cake and he is the man who founded FANTASIA BAKERY in San Francisco. When I wrote an article a few months ago entitled "Blums, Where are you?" I was contacted by one of his daughters, Sandy. She was pleased to tell me that he was writing a cookbook which would be out in the Spring, 2006. I had to meet this legend. And I did. An appointment that was only scheduled to last one hour was still going strong three hours later. Only a previous engagement tore us away. I am so honored to have been in his company for this time and to hear him share the stories of his emigration from Germany, his time in a French orphanage, his education at the Cordon Bleu and his arrival in America. His is the story of so many of our own grandparents fleeing for their lives from Europe with only the clothes on their back. With luck a guardian angel lends a helping hand once they arrive in this country and then their own hard work that resulted in great success.
The cookbook is now available through the website LOVE TO BAKE COOKBOOK. It is a must for anyone who wants the original recipe for Coffee Crunch Cake, Florentines and great stories about San Francisco's beloved Fantasia Bakery.
