Sweet treats and the way things should be in this country I love

I live in a sweet neighborhood in Northeast Wisconsin and I don’t have to work very hard when I want a treat.

I can walk just a few blocks to Frio for some homemade Mexican ice cream. Owner Hugo Ramirez opened the shop seven years ago and we’ve been big fans ever since. Hugo moved here from Chihuahua, Mexico and he honors that culture with the array of desserts and snacks he offers. The churro sundaes at Frio are a big old fiesta of love and tastiness. Frio doesn’t just offer food and excellent service, the Ramirez family also regularly participate in community fundraisers around the Fox Cities and in Mexico.

It isn’t easy to operate an ice cream shop in a city that hosts the Polar Vortex as often as Appleton does, but Hugo and his team have developed such a successful business plan they opened a second location in Neenah.

But, wait! There’s more and it’s all walking distance from my house.

Nea Hahn found her way to Appleton from southern Brazil and she brought with her a love of people and an affinity for high-end bakery treats. She and her husband Pat opened Whisk and Arrow in 2017 and the company quickly outgrew its original location. Today, the sugar studio employs 40 people and serves a whole range of absolutely delicious treats including macarons, elegant cakes and pastries. As they continue to expand, the Hahns included cafe options, salads, soups and sandwiches. The Brazilian carrot cake is a bucket list treat for anyone. The Hahns also give back to the community in a variety of ways, including treat donations, warm weather gear drives and pop ups for other small businesses they host throughout the year.

Just around the corner from Whisk and Arrow is our newest bakery, The Pastry Lovers, which features cakes and pastries with a Chilean flair. Anne Marie Fernandez and Hernan Barros run the bakery with their children. The family moved to Wisconsin from Chile and their shop features alfajores (pastries layered with dulce de leche) and other delicious treats.

Smack in the middle of these exotic sweet shops stands a stalwart bakery that has been in operation since 1967. Simple Simon Bakery offers the traditional treats you remember from your childhood — donuts, cakes, pies, cookies and cakes. They also whip up seasonal confections and serve them in a festive atmosphere. They bake and decorate cookies for every occasion, supply breads and rolls, and offer a wide range of wedding cakes.

Some of their fare is pure Wisconsin. They whip up Tom and Jerry mix every year from the secret Simon family recipe and, if you pop in to buy a paczki on Fat Tuesday, you might find a small polka band playing in the corner.

Three generations after Sylvester Simon first opened its doors, the bakery continues to thrive. Simple Simon Bakery is an active and proactive member of the community.

Each addition to our neighborhood only enhances its flavor.

If you want to taste the possibilities of what this country could be, and what it once was, take a stroll through our neighborhood and treat yourself to a little nibble of hope.