The Joy of Silvek's European Bakery in Little Rock.

For more than two generations, Silvek's has been operating its fine bakery out of the Kroger on Cantrell in the Heights. It still makes me happy.
Note: This bakery sadly closed in May 2016.


I get excited when I receive a white bakery box with a little gold and green sticker. Sometimes it’s a birthday; other times, it’s been for a special occasion. Inside that box, no matter who had decided to go or who’d made the selection, there would be a heavenly cake or confection from Silvek’s European Bakery. The cakes are sublime and come in so many flavors, such as Lemon Buttercream, Hazelnut Torte and Dark Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries.

Technically, you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to try out one of the cakes or cookies or breads or other specialties from the bakery. Sometimes I go by and pick up a couple of palm-sized specialties and a gallon of milk from the Kroger that Silvek’s resides in and take it all home to share with my

family. There are plenty of slices of my favorite cakes in the case to the right of the register, along with delights like Florentines and fudge, cannoli and Pecan Delight, kuchen and Chocolate Stefanka. There are cheese straws and biscuits and Linzer cookies and sand tarts. And there’s bread, lots of it.

Mr. Pupkowski’s fine little bakery has been a mainstay in my life in Little Rock, and though today there are other fantastic bakeries that serve up all sorts of delicacies, I still feel glamorous when someone brings me one of those white boxes with the

green and gold stickers.

You can find Silvek’s European Bakery at the Height’s Kroger (the one between Cantrell and Kavanaugh, officially at 1900 N. Polk. Call (501) 661-9699 or check out the website.