LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — Customers were in and out of Barbour's Bakery in Carbondale to make sure they got some sweet treats ahead of Fat Tuesday, specifically the popular king cake.
"Barbour's makes the best I've ever had. I've had it in New Orleans, but theirs is the best. The cinnamon, the icing, everything is just perfect," Joe Martines said.
Owner Janet Price says they are selling more than just Fat Tuesday specialties. Customers are also stopping for sweets for their Valentine. The overlapping of holidays means a busy bakery.
"It's just like getting Christmas and Easter together. You have to make everything. It's unbelievable the things you have to make for Fat Tuesday, and you have to turn around and make everything for Valentine's Day," Price said.
The pastry coolers at My Mother's Delicacies in Scranton are packed with many customer favorites as well as Valentine's-themed treats. They expect to be busy for the next couple of days. The bakery is also a wholesale shop shipping pastries all over the northeast.
Owner Susan Herlands says it's all hands on deck when it comes to holidays.
"We have two lines going all year long, but we do put on a second shift when we get busy," Herlands said.
As if preparing for two holidays wasn't enough, both bakeries say the weather forecast has also thrown a curveball, and customers are coming in ahead of the predicted snow.
"There's been a rush, especially with the snow coming. We're getting a little extra boost, but we anticipate a busy holiday week as we always do," said Anthony Romano, café manager for My Mother's Delicacies.
"We're doing as much as we can today, and hopefully, we can be open full-scale again tomorrow," Price said. "But it looks good for Valentine's Day."