Hello and Happy Thursday 🙂
Let the countdown to Thanksgiving begin! We have only TWO WEEKS until Turkey Day and we want to help sweeten up your holiday! This year we will be offering pies, cheesecakes, cookie trays and much more! You can find a copy of our Thanksgiving Flyer HERE!
If you would like to place an order, please give us a call at (412) 772-1283 – or – send us an email: bellachristiez@gmail.com 🙂
‘Tis the Season, everyone!
This post is all about the upcoming holidays and how you can make your party or event extra sweet! We are offering cookies, cupcakes, cake-pops and much more! As always, the limits are endless with our BCZ team – so, let us help your sweet tooth this holiday season! Contact information and store hours are listed below.
Happy Holidays 🙂
Employee Spotlight – The Entire BCZ Team
This month’s employee spotlight is going to be a bit different – We are going to shed some light on our entire Bella Christie and Lil’ Z’s team! The months of November and December are always our busiest out of the whole of year. Between the Thanksgiving Pies, Christmas Cookies and Holiday Desserts the baking and decorating can seem somewhat endless.. Like most other businesses, our main goal is to keep our customers happy, especially with their holiday orders – This requires a lot of over-time and motivation from all of our employees here at BCZ. So, this Employee Spotlight is to say a huge THANK YOU – to all of our sugar fairies who make the holidays extra sweet! You know who you are 😉
As we wrap up our Thanksgiving orders, we are ready to say – BRING ON DECEMBER 🙂
xoxo
Hi, readers!
Today on the blog we are shining some light on another important member of our BCZ team – JON! Jon is usually always on the go, so unless you’ve had the pleasure of talking with him at one of the many events that he works, the chances are you’ve never had the chance to ACTUALLY meet him! We are hoping to change that today with this Q&A… We finally had a moment to catch up with him and ask a few questions… and these were his responses:
What is your position at BCZ and what do you do?
Events Coordinator – I help run the day to day operations of the business including deliveries to our clients. In addition deliveries, I work the MANY events that we do. Whether it be local or even out of state!
When did you start at BCZ?
January of 2014
What is your favorite bakery item here?
Plain and simple – The Chocolate Chip Cookie!
All-time favorite cake – design wise, of course!
Definitely the wedding cake which hung upside-down like a chandelier!
What is your favorite cupcake flavor?
The Ho-Ho Cupcake!
What is your favorite thing about working at Bella Christie and Lil’ Z’s Sweet Boutique?
It’s always something different on a day to day basis – definitely not the typical 9 to 5 desk job!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I would love to travel to the Europe, specifically the countries where my family history began – Germany and Poland!
Who is your current favorite music artist?
All-time favorite would have to be Bob Dylan.
What is your favorite song at the moment?
“Hide Away” by Pittsburgh’s’ own Daya!
Who is your role model/hero?
I would have to say my late grandfather.
What is your all-time favorite movie?
Shawshank Redemption! It’s a classic…
Who is your favorite movie actress/actor?
Johnny Depp!
Favorite quote?
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”
Favorite Pittsburgh restaurants?
Primantis – HANDS DOWN!
Do you have any pets? If no, which type of pet would you like to have? If yes, tell us about them!
Right now I don’t have any pets – but, I would like to get a Husky someday! Possibly!
We hope that this Q&A helped you get to know Jon a little better! If you see him at an event – whether it be just stopping by to deliver desserts or if he is there to stay and work one of our phenomenal sweet stations – be sure to say hello!
xoxo,
BCZ
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT!
Hi, readers!
Due to our busy wedding season (SO GRATEFUL), we missed our Employee Spotlight for the month of August! However, this worked out in Amanda’s favor because she is now being featured in the spotlight during her birthday month of September! If you ever had the pleasure of working with Amanda, I am sure you know how passionate she is about her work. She is fully dedicated to ensuring that each and every one of her clients are completely satisfied on their big day! Whether it is a wedding day or any other special occasion – Amanda’s main focus is to always bring the customer’s vision to life! From a first-hand perspective, I can tell you that she does just that and so much more! Let’s get to know a Amanda a little better with a Q&A…
What is your position at BCZ and what do you do?
I am the Director of Special Events. I consult with clients regarding their upcoming events (weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, showers, etc.!) to plan their big day!
When did you start at BCZ?
October of 2013
What is your favorite bakery item here?
That is an unfair question…how does one choose?! If I have to pick just one item, it would be our chocolate chip cookie. It is the BEST I have ever had!
All-time favorite cake (Design Wise)?
The wedding cake for Candace Sarris’ wedding that was displayed hanging from a chandelier! It was breathtaking! I also loved the Boxer groom’s cake we did for Eric Tangradi because I have a baby boxer too!
What is your favorite cupcake flavor?
Salted Caramel + PB+J… can’t pick one!
What is your favorite thing about working at Bella Christie and Lil’ Z’s?
Truly, everything. But, the best thing is getting to know each client and seeing their event progress from concept to execution. It is so wonderful to be such a big part of someone’s special day!
If you could travel anywhere, where would you choose and why?
Paris – it is so romantic! And, Bora Bora to stay in a bungalow over the water!
Who is your favorite music artist?
John Legend, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Bruno Mars
What is your favorite song currently?
Currently loving Make Me Wanna by Thomas Rhett and love to get down to the Wobble!
Who is your role model/hero in life?
My mother. She is the most amazing, kind, genuine, and sweet person I know!
What is your all-time favorite movie?
13 Going on 30 + Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but I’m really a reality television addict.
Favorite movie actress/actor?
Audrey Hepburn, Leighton Meester, Jennifer Garner + Gerard Butler
Favorite quote of all time?
“Let go and let God”, “You can shake the sand from your shoes, but it will never leave your soul” “Never miss a chance to sparkle”
What are some of your favorite Pittsburgh restaurants?
Stack’d, Rose Tea Café, Carmi Family Restaurant, Square Café, Olive or Twist – just to name a few!
Do you have any pets?
Kia, my spoiled Boxer dog and Serena, my Betta fish – I will also be adding a turtle in the near future!
What is your favorite animal?
Dogs are my favorite pet and white snow leopards are my favorite animal.
We hope this Q&A helped you get to know Amanda a little better! If you are looking for an extravagant cake or an amazing selection of sweets for your special day, please feel free to contact her at – Amanda@asweetboutique.com
As always – Thank you for reading!
Have a sweet day, xoxo
Hello, readers!
It is that time, once again, to shine some light on yet another star member of our team! This month we have the amazing, Rose! Let me begin by saying that Rose can do it ALL! Even though she is typically working her magic “behind the scenes” – today we are bringing this talented individual to the SPOTLIGHT! Let’s get to know her a little better..
What is your position at BCZ? What is it that you do at the bakery?
My main responsibility is baking all of our cakes and making tons and tons of buttercream. Since we use Italian meringue-style buttercream, it can be very time consuming, and each batch takes 6 lbs. of butter! That taste, though- it is so worth it.
When did you start working at BCZ?
I’m an old-timer now – I started when we first opened the store in Aspinwall.
What was is your favorite “sweet treat” bakery item here?
Ooooh, that’s tough. I’m basically one gigantic sweet tooth, so I really love trying some of everything. Except cheesecake; I love baking it, but I can’t stand cream cheese.
All time favorite cake – Design wise, of course?
Personally, I love the cake that I made for my grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary. As far as some of the ones that have come out of our bakery goes, I always love the very vibrant colored, but classically designed ones. They’re all so unique that I always find some appreciable aspect of each cake we make, though.
Like I mentioned before, Rose can really do it ALL – Check out this amazing cake that she made!
What is your favorite cupcake flavor?
Again, all of them, just no cream cheese icing for this girl! Mojito and margarita cupcakes are pretty high up on the list of favorites. The pink lemonade cupcake we did was interesting- it was very oddly refreshing, which I don’t think most people would associate with cupcakes.
Those all sound like PERFECT summer flavors to me 🙂
What is your favorite thing about working at Bella Christies?
I come from a big family, so I was sold on the place immediately knowing that two sisters own it. Then, of course, their daughters are always running in and out, and their mother comes to help out often. It really is the absolute “family-owned” bakery.
What is your favorite item to bake?
Cheesecake and cupcakes have always been my favorites. Something about how simple a basic recipe can be so utterly transformed with the endless possibilities of additional flavors, fillings, and garnishes satisfies my creative streak.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Spain! Since I began high school, I realized that the three things in life I really need are Spanish, baking and math.
Who is your favorite music artist?
Either Butch Walker or Mary Chapin-Carpenter. Butch holds a special place in my heart, since every time I see him perform, I bring him a gift of cupcakes. Really : )
What is your favorite song, currently?
I haven’t listened to the radio lately, so I’m not really up on any current music. I am a big fan of pretty much all of Lady GaGa’s songs, though.
Do you have any pets? if so, what kind and how many?
I have two cats and one bunny. One of the cats is twenty pounds, and the bunny pushes him around.
GWEN! She’s too cute!
Who is your role model/hero?
Probably my dad. He’s an old curmudgeon (he’s 59 with 5 kids, so of course he is), but he works hard and is just genuinely a very good guy.
What is your all time favorite movie?
Boy, I don’t know. Either Disney’s Fantasia, The Sound of Music, or Mallrats…?
Favorite quote?
“Ain’t nobody got time for that.” Just kidding. I’m not sure; I do try to live the credo “we do one thing, we do it well, we move on.” It helps a lot when things get crazy at the bakery!
Favorite Pittsburgh restaurants?
Oooooh, All India in North Oakland. Followed, of course, by a trip to Antney’s Ice Cream in Crafton.
Here at Bella Christie’s, we love to recognize the hard work of our employees – especially during this time of WEDDING SEASON! When you’re enjoying a bite of cake made by our team, be sure to send a special thanks to Rose – the cake baking expert – who made the great taste happen! Happy Friday – AND – Happy National Donut Day to you all! Have a sweet day!
xoxo,
BCZ Blogger
PRINT CONTEST FLYER!
Hi Readers!
It is officially.. WEDDING SEASON! This is without a doubt a bakery’s busiest time of the year and we are no exception. Between the everyday cake masterpieces we create and the hustle of wedding season, this time of year can be a bit challenging. As a team, we strive to ensure that every customer is more than satisfied with their BCZ experience. With that being said, our production team can only handle a limited amount of orders. Since we are a custom dessert bakery, each item takes a little more time and effort to “perfect”. As a business, we do not want to take time away from any existing orders that have been placed ahead of time. Therefore, last minute orders won’t always be able to be fulfilled.
Our advice to our customers is to place your orders as soon as possible! We hate telling customers that we cannot take their orders due to reaching our maximum production limit, so help us avoid this issue by planning ahead of time! We appreciate each and every one of you as well as your business with our Bella Christie Team! Let’s make this wedding season a spectacular one 🙂
xoxo,
BCZ Blogger
Hi, BCZ Readers! HAPPY FRIDAY!
Today, Dimitri is SPOTTED on our Employee Spotlight! If you are a regular Bella Christie’s customer I am sure that you have had the pleasure of working with Dimitri. Whether it is via email, phone or in person — He is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that all of our customer’s orders meet their creative needs! Let’s get to know him a little better… Here are a few questions that we asked!
What is your position at BCZ, what exactly do you do? 
Sales Consultant, Sweet Truck Coordinator, Manager of Lawrenceville… I assist clients with their orders while also managing the Lawrenceville location.
Dimitri is a very busy man!
When did you start at BCZ?
August of 2013
What was is your favorite bakery item here?
Buttercream cookies or chocolate chip cookies.. Tough decision between the two.
Agreed!
If you had to choose, what is your all-time favorite cake (Design Wise)?
3D sculpted cakes.. I don’t have a specific one in mind, but all of our sculpted cakes amaze me!
What is your favorite cupcake flavor?
Definitely Samoa! I love anything with a good coconut flavor.
What is your favorite thing about working at Bella Christies?
There’s no monotony; every day is different with unique and custom orders
A pink, glittery bakery is always sure to surprise!
If you could travel anywhere, where would you choose?
Australia or New Zealand.. Or even both!
Who is your favorite music artist?
Plastic Plates, Madeon, Russ Chimes.. Can’t decide between the three.
What is your favorite song currently?
Madeon with Mark Foster – Nonsense
Who is your role model/hero?
Gandhi!
What is your all-time favorite movie?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Favorite quote?
“You can either go through it or grow through it”
Favorite Pittsburgh restaurants?
Udipi, Gaucho, Tana.. They are all so good!
Contact us to see what creative ideas Dimitiri can help you with! He will be more than happy to assist you!
Have a sweet day, Readers!
xoxo,
BCZ
