Mangia! Phoenix is about to get a little more Sicilian. Opening this month next to The Sicilian Butcher in Phoenix, Chef Joey Maggiore, his wife Cristina and their business partner Flora Tersigni, are excited to announce The Sicilian Baker Cannoli Bar & Market. Located in what was formerly Edible Arrangements at Tatum and Greenway, the new concept will feature a build-your-own-cannoli bar. Guests will be able to purchase fresh pasta by the pound, sausage and imported cured meats and cheeses. A tavola calda style counter will include Sicilian pastries and assorted desserts. Maggiore has commissioned his cousin Giovanni La Rosa, a master pastry chef from Sicily, to help create the specialized desserts residents won’t be able to get anywhere else.
“This is definitely something one-of-a-kind in the United States,” said Maggiore. “We’re bringing Sicily to the footsteps of Phoenix with what we’re building next to the Tatum and Greenway location.”
Designed by Cristina, the vision for The Sicilian Baker was brought to life by Jessica Avignone of JTA Interiors. The 1,400 square-foot venue will have black porcelain tile flooring, off-white brick walls and giant sliding barn doors throughout. Rolling pins will hang from the ceiling along with repurposed wire whisks in the form of ambient lighting. Red display cases of the meats and cheeses will line the outskirt walls with butchers standing behind them. Pastry chefs will be there to offer up incredible Italian treats such as cassatas, sfinci (Italian doughnuts), Sicilian cookies and much more. White marble bistro table and chairs sets will be placed throughout. Located right next to The Sicilian Butcher, guests will be able to walk freely between the two concepts.
The build-your-own cannoli bar will be a prominent feature at The Sicilian Baker. It will feature ten different flavored creams for guests to choose from including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, lemon, pistachio, espresso and original. People will also be able to customize the size of their cannoli shells from mini to a foot long. Flavored shells such as chocolate dipped, pistachio encrusted and sugar coated will also be options along with multiple toppings.
This will be the first of three planned Sicilian Baker Cannoli Bar & Market locations for the metro area. The second will open next to The Sicilian Butcher in Chandler and the third will open in the West Valley. Both are slated for next year. Maggiore said the restaurant group has plans to open 15 more Sicilian Baker concepts throughout Arizona.