Miriam L.
Yelp
When I first tried Sweet Life about 15 years ago, I was not super impressed - they had a good array of options, but compared to the bakeries I'd enjoyed in many other cities, things were both a little too sweet AND a little too whole-wheat... I recall a very hearty and wholesome tasting eclair... which is just not what I'm looking for in an eclair.
However,in the years since, I've either acquired a taste or things have improved, or a nice mix of both, as I love their cakes and assorted pastries. My favorite thing though, has been their many vegan items, as my kid has an egg allergy (severe, but we've rarely run into a kitchen cross contamination issue anywhere, and we've always had good experiences here!) We have ordered many many birthday cakes (sheet cakes, round cakes, many many dozens of cupcakes, for many occasions over the last decade), as well as many vegan pumpkin pies at Thanksgiving, and we've enjoyed the many standard pies (generally egg free), pop tartlets, mini bundts, parfaits (especially the peanut butter one), cookies, chocolates, and more (and I'll still sneak in and enjoy the eggy things when I'm on my own.) But one standard and reliable thing that we loved is now gone, and I cannot get any explanation for why! Perhaps if someone gave a reason, I would let it go, but as it is, my family is just saddened.
And it's the weirdest thing! Cinnamon rolls! Frankly, millions of people around the world manage to make amazing cinnamon rolls daily without egg... but somehow not in Eugene. So, when we want a basic breakfast baked good we're left to the occasional rolling of our own, or we have to buy a roll of canned rolls from the store, or we've even found ourselves shopping at Whole Foods just to get a few vegan croissants. (And I'll note WF barely has anyone baking anything anymore, so if they can manage to make a few vegan breakfast pastries, a whole darned bakery ought to be able to.)
But why has Sweet Life stopped making cinnamon rolls without egg in them? Who knows! All they'll say is "we don't make those anymore." So I'm left to wonder, was there only one chef capable of it and they left? Was it a secret recipe that followed someone to the grave? Were they sued for a recipe? It's mysterious that they won't give any reasoning. They have "changed to selling vegan berry rolls" is all they'll say. (My family doesn't find those very tasty... we have opted to get the pop tartlets instead but those aren't always in stock, so then we just buy less stuff.) Apparently some people like them. And apparently some people like the 2-3 eggy variations on cinnamon and lemon creme rolls they now make... but the case is always totally full of them when we shop (nearly weekly), even when other things are sold out, and it used to be our experience that we would buy the last few vegan cinnamon rolls, so it seems like they sold well.
Anyhow, since SL has cornered the vegan market here for delicious bakeries we'll obviously keep buying the delicious cakes, but we will do it sadly, and spend less money each time, because we won't also be buying cinnamon rolls. If anyone else in town wants to take on the clearly terribly awful task of making cinnamon rolls without egg in them (and do it well like Sweet Life did, not some weird healthy whole wheat or dense gluten free thing (and no that's not a dig on Elegant Elephant... we like some of their vegan items but their gluten free cinnamon rolls have egg, so we've never tried them!), -- well if someone else wants to pick up that torch, let me know and you'll have customers!
And I'll note, I've worked in retail, so I know that someone who spends $40-60 every other week isn't actually that significant a customer... but I find it unlikely there aren't other people who would eat eggless cinnamon rolls. Why not make them Fridays only or such!
