An Authentic Sicilian Bakery Lands in Montrose | Eater Houston

"Just opened in Montrose last weekend at 515 Westheimer Road, La Sicilia Italian Bakery & Cafe brings authentic European treats from a family-run operation led by Antonio Rios (general manager and part owner) alongside his parents Antonio Sr. and Olga Rios, with Antonio’s husband Diego Chiarello serving as the pastry talent. I was told Diego has been baking in Sicily with his five brothers since he was nine and, as Antonio explains, “it’s a natural talent of his, and he’s a perfectionist on top of that” who “puts a lot of love into it.” The bakery’s Facebook page details offerings including house-made cannoli, focaccia breads, croissants, macarons, a four-cheese ravazzate (a Sicilian street food akin to an enclosed sloppy joe), and kouign-amann (a layered French pastry similar to a croissant, shaped like an upside-down muffin). Antonio and Diego moved from New York to Houston to open the shop after considering Miami and LA, saying they felt Houston needed an Italian bakery like what they had in New York; hours are Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., with Sunday brunch beginning this summer." - Alaena Hostetter