A new dining option is coming to the Westfarms mall in Farmington, and it will feature a wide variety of baked goods, beverages and a one-of-a-kind ice cream treat.
The Pink Petal Bakery & Cafe is opening later this month on the first level of the mall near Macy’s in the location previously occupied by The Green Teahouse. This is the first location for owner Tiffany Acosta, who has baked out of her New Britain home for the past several years. She has also sold her baked goods at fairs around the state.
The 30-year-old grew up in New York before moving to Hartford as a teenager. She graduated in 2013 from Bulkeley High School. Acosta said she was working different jobs after high school, but her husband, John Rivera, noticed she was happiest baking cupcakes.
Eventually, she enrolled in Lincoln Tech Institute in Shelton, where she studied in the culinary field.
“It never clicked to make this a profession, and then I went to school to get the skills that I need to be better. It grew from just cupcakes to cakes and desserts,” said Acosta, who graduated in 2020 and has been baking cakes and other sweets out of her home ever since.
“I fell in love with it and because a personal passion,” she said. “When I got my degree, I grew my recipes even more and started making new pastries. Eventually, I wanted to open my own bakery cafe.”
Acosta’s husband will by her side as a chef at the cafe preparing breakfast and lunch offerings. In addition to custom cakes, cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies, donuts, smoothie bowls and ice cream, there are also brunch options including pancakes, French toast, oatmeal and breakfast paninis. Paninis, sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads are among the lunch choices, and the cafe will also offer beverages including coffee, tea, lemonades, lattes, milkshakes, cold brews, matcha and chai.
“(My husband) crafted a creative menu,” Acosta said. “He has a BBQ ranch salad, honey mustard panini, caesar wrap as well as soups like chicken tortilla and minestrone.”
Tiffany Acosta works in the kitchen at the Pink Petal Bakery & Café, opening at Westfarms mall in Farmington in the coming weeks. (Amanda Sirica)
Acosta has been making custom cakes for special occasions for years and will offer those services at the cafe. The cake flavors include vanilla, chocolate, chocolate raspberry, raspberry, carrot, pumpkin, Oreo and pink champagne.
Acosta is particularly excited about a teddy bear waffle cone that will be on the menu.
“It’s something new to our menu, and we’re just excited to show a different type of waffle cone,” Acosta said. “It looks like the head of a teddy bear with ice cream on top with their choice of toppings.”
Acosta also plans to carry a variety of sweet croissants. One of the sweet croissants is called Crookie, a chocolate chip cookie dough baked inside and on top of the croissant. There will also be a Biscoff version, which is a glazed croissant stuffed with Biscoff whipped cream, Biscoff drizzle and cookie pieces.
“We’re excited to welcome Pink Petal Bakery & Café,” Westfarms spokesperson Amanda Sirica said. “The concept represents the kind of innovative, first-to-market eatery experience we’re proud to bring to Westfarms.”
“Pink Petal complements our existing, unique to market eatery options, and we look forward to our shoppers exploring the menu and making it part of a future visit,” Sirica said, noting the mall’s other eateries including Texas de Brazil, BRIO Italian Grille, California Pizza Kitchen, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and Nordstrom Marketplace Café.
Acosta knows it’s a “huge accomplishment” for her to open up her first brick-and-mortar location, and she hopes to grow into more locations in the future.
“Some days I wake up and I can’t believe this is happening to me. We have a son, as well as a dog, and we want to show our son to follow our passions, Acosta said mentioning her 7-year-old son Grey and the family dog named Denki, who is a maltese.
“We want him to do what he loves. He loves telling everybody that ‘My mom’s a baker.’ He’s involved in the business as well. He did the fairs with me and helped cash people out. As a family, we want to show that we follow our passions.”
Acosta said her goal is to become a beloved local destination.
“We want to be welcoming for people to come in and get that coffee or that drink that they love or that wholesome warm soup on a cold day,” she said.
The Pink Petal Bakery & Cafe will be open during standard mall hours. Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
