Everything You Need to Know About Ballard’s Honore Artisan Bakery Becoming Rosellini’s
Seattle native Suzanne Rosellini takes over, adds layered cakes and homemade sodas
By Seattle Mag July 18, 2016
It happened faster than you can say kouign amann.
Seattle native and professional baker Suzanne Rosellini never planned to buy an established bakery, but when the cherished Honore Artisan Bakery (1413 NW 70th St) went up for sale in her Ballard neighborhood, Rosellini jumped at the chance to take over the business.
Original owner Franz Gilbertson and his family were scheduled to return to the Midwest in June, so the exchange took place just in time for Rosellini to train with Gilbertson for two speedy weeks.
“I did a crash course in croissants,” Rosellini explains.
Not that Rosellini doesn’t know her way around pastry dough. She has been baking since she was eight years old and used to run the dessert program at Hattie’s Hat. She also ran the kitchen at Cafe Literati before launching her own cake company, Rosellini’s Sweets, eight years ago.
There, she specializes in classic American layered cakes but is also known for cupcakes, coffee cake (her mom’s recipe) and cookies. She uses local and organic ingredients whenever possible and has baked for countless weddings, baby showers and other special events in Seattle.
Rosellini plans to honor the traditions at Honore. This is not a hostile takeover. In fact, the talented baking staff and baristas have stayed on board. In addition to the croissants, quiches, breads, tarts, and kouign amanns (we confirm, it is still fabulous) you’ve come to love, Rosellini plans to add seasonal tarts, a savory croissant or two, and slices of traditional cakes, including coconut cake and chocolate with espresso buttercream. She also plans to add housemade sodas.
Lastly, she will change the bakery’s name to Rosellini’s. No official date on the signage change, though.
What you will notice now is that the the tiny patio with six tables out back has been scrubbed clean and decorated with several potted plants. Hours are the same: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.