by Katie Vasquez
Most bakeries offer you flavor choices like vanilla or chocolate, but Circo’s Pastry shop gives you the choice between Democrat or Republican.
It’s “a fun way to finish off this election, keep it light,” explains Circo’s Pastry Shop co-owner, Anthony Pierdipino.
His Bushwick bakery is folding politics into their pastries by selling sweet treats bearing the faces of both presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
But unlike the two candidates, there’s no difference between the two cookies.
“Both taste exactly the same,” he tells Currents News. “There’s no difference. It’s a shortbread cookie, crunchy, glazed with a little bit of vanilla icing and the edible picture on top.”
Pierdipino only made a few dozen initially but the sweet treat has taken off, selling close to 500.
“I started it as a joke, to be honest with you,” he admits. “I brought them out to the store and a couple guys said ‘let me get some of those’ and started making a big deal about it. I was like, ‘Wow, people really like these.”
One longtime customer, Manuel Montanez, bought one to show off his patriotism.
“It’s pride,” he says. “Pride in the country, that’s it. Pride in whoever I think offers me the most,” he adds.
Fellow patron Jonathan Evans says the cookies are a good reminder.
“At one point I didn’t want to vote,” he admits. “So now I’m voting now, too. I think everybody should do it.”
As it turns out, it’s not just Brooklynites buying these cookies. Pierdipino says he’s getting orders from as far away as California.
“We go nationwide from all over the states and you have people, people from left and right. It’s quite interesting,” he adds.
The Catholic baker hopes the cookies encourage people not only to head to the ballot box in November, but to vote their conscience come Election Day.
“We’re electing a lawmaker and the presidential position is very important. Let’s not forget about our God in our laws that we live by,” says Pierdipino. “Whoever wins or loses, it’s definitely in God’s hands.”
The shop has orders continuing, even after the polls close.
If you would like to buy your own cookies, you can visit the shop at 312 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
You can also order online at https://circospastryshop.com/.