- April 26, 2024
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Penny Sedam has always loved to bake. She has also always said that one day, she will live at the beach.
The youngest of four kids, Sedam said some of her best memories come from watching her mom bake. She remembers her mom’s homemade donuts strung out across a curtain rod in the kitchen and newspaper on the floor catching the glaze as it slowly dripped.
“She was always a big baker and she taught all of us girls how to cook and bake,” Sedam said. “I wish I could tell you that there was something more elaborate than that.”
In June, Sedam put her love of baking and the beach together when she bought what used to be Coastal Cakes and opened her own bakery, Beachside Bake Shop.
She doesn’t have a specialty, she said she doesn’t want to box herself in, but instead has been baking whatever she feels like and highlights what she is making on Facebook daily. Some of the tasty items in the case have included key lime cupcakes, pumpkin bread, zucchini bread and banana cream pie to name a few.
“I’m not predictable in my menu, but do take requests,” Sedam said. “We’re for anything. But not wedding cakes. Eventually, I want to get someone who has that skill, but right now, we’re not doing them."
When I stopped in to chat with Sedam, the shop had closed for the day, but there were still samples left. I was excited to taste some of the creations — lemon, key lime and almond with vanilla cupcakes.
“I’m a people pleaser,” Sedam said. “I like to have samples of everything to make sure you like what you’re getting – not every flavor is for every person.”
While all the flavors were delicious, Sedam said for her, there is something comforting about almond and vanilla. I agreed. The subtle sweetness coupled with the lightness of the almond vanilla cupcakes was my top pick for the day as well.
But more than the act of baking or even the outcome of flavors, Sedam said that for her, food is about the memories.
“There are a lot of wonderful things that have happened around food and coffee,” Sedam said. “And that’s what I want this to be, for people to make memories. Whether it is they come here and get it and bring it to their family — that would make my heart a whole lot of happy. Life can be messy and if you can do that one little thing that makes somebody happy, it means the world.”
IF YOU GO:
Beachside Bake Shop
Address: 300 S. Central Ave, Unit 105, Flagler Beach
Phone: 303-482-7107
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; and 9-2 p.m. Saturdays
