Bakery customers get ‘a taste’ of the culinary arts

At one Bellmore bakery, customers aren’t only able to buy custom cakes, cookies, pastries and sweet treats, but also they can bake and decorate confections themselves, with the help of experts.

A Taste of Home, at 1992 North Jerusalem Road on the North Bellmore-East Meadow border, is holding culinary classes throughout the year in which customers can learn from chefs and decorators.

A Taste of Home is a family-owned and -operated bakery, café and sweet shop that offers cakes, desserts, breads, chocolates, bagels, ice cream and deli items. The store, owned by sisters Monica Tarantino and Rose Fuger, has been recognized with several awards in the 11 years that it has been open, and the owners noted that they continue to be involved in charitable activities supporting Island Harvest, United Cerebral Palsy, the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Kiwanis and Lions clubs.

Tarantino and Fuger said that offering classes is a way that they can continue to get to know the community. The most recent program, run by A Taste of Home executive pastry chef Nadia Vanzan, allowed residents to design cookies in the shape of the minion characters from the “Despicable Me” film franchise.

Fuger assisted Vanzan at the July 24 program. She also ran a pie-making class on July 31.

Fuger, who has been baking for 35 years, has appeared on the Food Network’s “Sweet Genius” and “Real Food” on Telecare TV. The bakery’s other television stars –– Don Donneruno and Meredith Gulfman, who are featured on this season of “Next Great Baker” –– also hold cake-decorating courses. Patrons may register for their “SpongeBob Squarepants” class on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.

The bakery staff updates the A Taste of Home Facebook page, “A Taste of Home Bakery,” with upcoming programs. More information about the shop is available at

atasteofhomeli.com.