With two lighted cases full of delicious-looking cakes, cookies and pastries, patrons may have the pleasant problem of deciding what to sample first at the new Boutique Sweet Couple in North Naples.
Chef Sergiy Horyslavskyy makes all of the baked goods, as well as everything else on the menu at the bakery-cafe that opened May 15 in the former space of Sweet Caroline’s, Bobby Yanks Burgers and Locale Eatery in the green-trimmed retail strip next to the NCH North Naples hospital campus at the intersection of Goodlette-Frank and Immokalee roads.
“We call the place boutique because we would like to give you something exclusive and everything is homemade, handmade,” said Galyna Horyslavska, who co-owns and operates the local mom-and-pop business with her husband, Sergiy. “It’s exclusive. The place is not just a bakery and not just a coffee shop, but a boutique bakery and coffee shop.”
Their new destination is in the same inline commercial strip where they have operated Tartine & Tartelette French fine-dining restaurant for three years after buying the business from the French couple who founded it. Tartine & Tartelette is open for dinner by reservation only every day but Sunday. Both of their businesses are closed on Sundays to give them time to relax with their three children.
The Ukrainian couple moved to the United States with their first daughter in 2016 and to Naples in 2020. Some specialties from their homeland are featured at the boutique business.
For instance, Wednesday’s special this week is varenyky, the Ukrainian version of a pierogi — pasta pillows stuffed with potato and sauerkraut and served with a dollop of house-made sour cream and herbs. “Trust me. In the west part of Ukraine where we’re from it’s authentic,” Horyslavska said. “Every Sunday, all the Ukrainian families have varenyky after church. In my family, it was traditional.”
A top spot in the pastry case showcases horishky, traditional walnut-shaped cookies in Ukraine filled with dulce de leche or chocolate ganache. The Napoleon and honey cakes have Slavic roots, too.
Boutique Sweet Couple also features a variety of specials from around the world: Black Forest cake from Germany, tartelettes and hazelnut dacquoise cake from France and cheesecake inspired by Greece and the United States. In addition to pastries and desserts, the menu includes sandwiches, quiches, crepes, omelets, meatballs, salads and soups, as well as fresh breads and croissants all made by Chef Horyslavskyy, who works alone in the kitchen making food from scratch.
Beverages include espresso and coffee drinks, organic loose-leaf teas, hot chocolate, lemonade, fresh juices, smoothies, mimosas, beer, wine and sparkling or still water. The “Sweet Couple” hot drink features coffee with a shot of coffee cream liqueur with a whipped cream topping.
Boutique Sweet Couple, 11121 Health Park Blvd., Suite 300, is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day but Sunday. The restaurant has 28 seats to dine inside at the cozy eatery, as well as 12 outside at umbrella tables.
