(From The Record: June 7, 2005)
Brownie points
Don Bartlett is breathing new life into an old Italian bakery in Hackensack, where he's turning out 15 varieties of gourmet brownies.
Bartlett, 35, opened for business last month after moving his Sweet Lips Brownie Co. from a cramped Victorian house in Clinton to the building where Foschini's Bakery operated for more than 100 years. He lives in Fort Lee.
The baker makes his brownies from scratch, using all-natural ingredients and no preservatives. Most popular are no-nut, cheesecake, peanut butter, nut (walnuts) and turtle (a caramel brownie with pecans). He also makes fruit bars, cookies (lemon or chocolate-chip), pastries, doughnuts and focaccia and sells gift baskets filled with goodies.
You also can find his brownies at Kings Super Markets, Bennies in Englewood and Cottage Deli in Chatham.
Bartlett has installed a coffee bar at the bakery and expected to have kosher certification by now.
Sweet Lips Brownie Co., 75 Lodi St., Hackensack; (201) 342-6110, sweetlipsbrownie.com. Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays; closed Saturdays.
