“Resistance is futile” at Rachel Marie Klemek’s Blackmarket Bakery in a business park near John Wayne Airport. The location is unlikely, but Klemek has been producing some compelling baked goods since 2004.
Klemek plays up the unusual in her branding, featuring labels with cake UFOs and tractor beams that pull people onboard. For probing, no doubt, since that seems to be an alien specialty. The logo is a pair of crossed swords and a tilted cake or skull, depending on how twisted you are.
Klemek was trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and the business park provided her with a low-rent forum for her baked goods. A fridge near the entrance showcases a number of tarts, including the Black Widow with dark chocolate in a dark chocolate shell. Blackmarket leaves little doubt about the provenance of their chocolate, selling massive bars of Belgian Callebaut. A table held single-wrapped scones and bags of powder-dusted Russian tea cookies. Blackmarket lines shelves with assorted shortbreads, brownies and bars, many flavored with chocolate.
Klemek titled her side project Marché Noir (blackmarket in French) and utilizes wine flour, which is made using residual grape skins that remain after the Cabernet crush. It’s apparently high in iron, fiber and antioxidants.
Blackmarket Bakery packed plenty of enticing options into the small room, and an employee told me that it the stock was low after a recent food show. If that’s the case, I’ll return when Blackmarket’s back at full-strength, and I’m bringing reinforcements.
Blog Comments
nikhil lilothia
September 14, 2011 at 12:50 AM
gud food nd great chef