Pakula's Famous Bakery Products Return with the Legendary Rugelach Based on 200-Year Old Family Recipe

ew York, NY - July, 2003- Pakula's Bake Shop, the legendary Bronx and Spring Valley, NY, Mecca for the very best in Eastern European-style baked goods based on 200 year-old family recipes, is returning to New York area specialty stores and select supermarkets under the name Pakula's Bakery. Pakula's world-famous Rugelach, the much-loved and very much missed little pastry twist, once a staple in many households, is the first product to become available.

Bringing back the famous products that bear his family name is Andy Pakula, representing the ninth generation to enter the family's baking dynasty. Forty-four year old Andy is well suited for his new leadership role as he trades-in his high-profile career as an advertising executive and computer-Internet-Wunderkind for a business that uses spatulas and mixing bowls as hardware. More importantly, Andy is in charge of the family's prized recipes that have been handed down over 200 years, written on pieces of butter- and flour-stained paper in Yiddish. Polish, Russian and eventually, broken English. These prized recipes contain the treasured formulas for making Rugelach, brownies, crumb, marble, coffee and cheese cakes, raisin buns, black & whites, breads, and other products that made the Pakula name famous. Now these much-loved recipes have been entered in a computer, safe guarded with passwords and secret codes.

Andy said: "Over my lifetime, no matter where I went in the world, people who heard my name asked if I was related to the famous Bronx and Spring Valley Pakula Bake Shop that once produced the memorable and extraordinary baked goods. We spent a lifetime building a brand name. Yet it all would have been gone if I didn't do something to keep it alive." Andy discussed this with his dad, Ben Pakula, eighth generation and known as the "Leonardo Da Vinci" of bakers. Andy's idea was to produce the very same products but they would be distributed to gourmet stores rather than sold in a single retail shop. Plans were underway but when his father died suddenly in 2002, the idea of bringing back the family's products became even more poignant. "This new venture is a fitting homage to my father as his recipes and instructions have guided me in every step of production," he said.

Leading the way into retail stores is Pakula's gourmet Rugelach, offered in six different flavors:

Pakula's Classic Rugelach features Chocolate, Raspberry, and Apricot Pakula's Nouvelle Rugelach features Mint Chocolate, Cappuccino, and Apple-Cinnamon.

Pakula's Rugelach is now available at gourmet, specialty stores and select supermarkets in the New York Metropolitan area including:

FOOD EMPORIUM BRIDGE MARKET, 405 East 59th St. @ First Ave.
GRACE'S MARKET, 1237 Third Ave. @ 71st St.
CORRADO BAKERY, Grand Central Station, Lexington Ave. @ 43rd St.
CORRADO BAKERY, 960 Lexington Ave. @ 70th St.
GARDEN OF EDEN, 7 East 14TH St. @ 5TH Ave.
GARDEN OF EDEN, 310 3RD Ave., between 23RD and 24th streets
GARDEN OF EDEN, 162 West 23RD St.
GARDEN OF EDEN, 180 Montague Ave., Brooklyn Heights
BUTTERFIELD MARKET, Lexington Ave. @ 78th St.
LIKITSAKOS MARKET, Lexington Ave. @ 80th St.
FRESH DIRECT, www.freshdirect.com

Pakula's Bakery Rugelach is distributed by Sapori Foods, Jamaica, NY, GAF Seelig, Queens, New York and InterCounty Bakers in Lindenhurst, NY.

Prices and Sizes
Pakula's Bakery Rugelach are sold in individual 8 oz. boxes, 8 pieces to a box; suggested retail price: $6.99. They also come in 10 lb. pre-bake and baked (thaw and serve) cases for food service, and are certified kosher.