About The Pastry Box, now open on 12th Street

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

The Pastry Box had its soft opening on Monday at 515 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B. 

Brooklyn native Tiara Bennett is the chef-owner...

"I spent my entire life in the kitchen in some way or another," she told us. "My love of combining food with art, adventure, culture, love, and family was why I decided to attend the International Culinary Center [formerly known as the French Culinary Institute]."

After graduation, she worked in several kitchens (Tao Group, Union Square Hospitality, and Cafe Boulud and Restaurant Daniel with the Dinex Group).

However, her affinity for "classic pastry" won out.

"I then decided to combine the complex flavor profiles I learned with my love for the basics, and The Pastry Box was formed." 

And on June 19, 2020, with her best friend in tow, Bennett started selling baked goods outside her Brooklyn apartment.

Bennett realized her dream of running her own brick-and-mortar shop earlier this year when she signed the lease for this space...

The shop offers a variety of muffins, cookies, tarts, scones, cupcakes, housemade jams and nut butter, granola, doughnuts ... and will eventually add bread into the rotation. They also serve Oval Coffee.

"The mission with The Pastry Box is to offer high-quality pastry and dessert products without the need to go to a fine dining restaurant," Bennett said. "Our motto is 'classic favorites, premium flavors.' We want to start programs educating the youth in our community on proper kitchen etiquette and simple baking techniques."

The Pastry Box hours: 

Thursday-Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Sunday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Monday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday

You can follow the bakery on Instagram. The Pastry Box website is coming soon here.