Florentine Pastry Shop had been a part of Utica since 1928. The Alessandroni family has been following some of the same Italian pastry traditions for more than 50 years. 

About.com says every year the U.S. president signs an executive order designating the month of October as National Italian American Heritage Month. Coinciding with the festivities surrounding Columbus Day, the proclamation is recognition of the many achievements, contributions, and successes of Americans of Italian descent as well as Italians in America. According to the United States Census New York has the second largest population of Italian Americans at 14.4%.

newyorkupstate.com has put together a '10 Best Italian Bakeries and Markets In Upstate NY' list in honor of National Italian American Heritage Month and The Florentine Pastry Shop on Bleeker Street in Utica came in at number 3. People say the cannolis they make are from an original Sicilian recipe. The Florentine is famous for their 'pusties' (pasticiottis) using an original recipe from Naples.

newyorkupstate.com says:

Jared Alesia, the young Culinary Institute of America-trained latest member of the founding family, now makes, bakes and sells hundreds of them each day. These filled mini-pies come in vanilla, chocolate, raspberry, coconut and a dozen other flavors.

This is what some of my friends saying about The Florentine Pastry Shop:

"Delicious...Everything is delicious especially their tiramisu."

"I remember going there every Sunday morning with my grandmother to get cannolis for Sunday dinner."

“I remember going there for my mother before every holiday for lobster tail pastry and Italian cheesecake."

Cindy McMullen/TSM
Cindy McMullen/TSM
loading...

13 Most Haunted Colleges In New York

More From 96.1 The Eagle