While the Alaska Junction has several dessert options, the Admiral Junction now has a sweet spot of its own. Heavenly Pastry & Cake officially opened Friday, May 28 at 2604 California Avenue SW, the space the West Seattle Herald office once occupied. And while some miss the old office, you can always grab a "Raspberry-Hazelnut Yum" bar and a cup of Stumptown Coffee and read our latest issue while seated on the bakery's Heavenly church pew and homemade tables.

Heavenly Pastry & Cake founder and baker Allison Barnes is a 20-year West Seattle resident.

"We built the tables ourselves," said Barnes. "They're in the basement now while the stain is drying," she said of the trimmed, butcher block "islands."

She explained, "The Full Gospel Pentecostal (Federated) Church on Delridge was giving the pew away. Clove and I got blessed when we picked it up. We'll see if that took."

Clove Burt works at the bakery. Like Barnes and her other Heavenly bakers, Burt graduated from culinary school at South Seattle Community College.

"Because we're all from the same school, I don't have to tell them what to do," said Barnes, who once worked for a Paul Allen company, then started her pastry business at Seattle area farmer's markets five years ago.

All goods are made fresh at the bakery. In addition to the Raspberry-Hazelnut Yum, a fruit jam bar, the bakery offers pretzels made from Barnes' German grandmother's closely-guarded recipe. Also on the menu are hard-crusted Italian and French breads, five-inch cakes for two, cookies, and a unique biscuit named "The Big Cheezy."

"After Katrina we had some regular customers from the Big Easy at our farmer's market stands, so we came up with 'The Big Cheezy,'" said Barnes. "We're not doing doughnuts, but the stray cupcake will wander in here."

Heavenly Pastry & Cake (206) 420-2780. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 7-7, Sunday 7-3.

Visit: www.heavenlypastry.com

EDITORS NOTE: We moved our offices last fall. You can still reach the Herald in our office in Burien at 14006 1st Avenue South, Suite B or by calling our main office number at 206-708-1378. You can also reach us at the various links found HERE.