{"id":273243,"date":"2026-08-27T13:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/273243\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T13:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:40:13","slug":"this-family-run-bakery-gives-economy-a-boost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/273243\/","title":{"rendered":"This Family-Run Bakery Gives Economy a Boost"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Whiskcakes\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

This is a story about punk rock, pastries, parenthood and a French-Canadian-American dream.<\/p>\n

On July 1, Quebec native Elodie Cyr Condosta and her Southern California-born husband A.J. Condosta opened Lavande Whisk Bakery & Coffee Shop<\/a> in Economy.<\/p>\n

The couple met through the music industry \u2014 she managed concert tours; he\u2019s a longtime drummer for bands such as Guttermouth<\/a> and Hit the Switch<\/a>. In 2022, they left the West Coast to find a new rhythm in Pittsburgh with their 5-year-old daughter Abiga\u00eblle.<\/p>\n

\"Whiskposter\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

The space in Beaver County is small, but the flavors are big.<\/p>\n

The menu changes with the seasons, the availability of fresh, organic ingredients and Elodie\u2019s whisking whims, but there are some mainstay desserts that you must try. Abiga\u00eblle will happily tell you all about them, complete with a song-and-dance routine.<\/p>\n

Elodie\u2019s carrot cakes and muffins with cream cheese icing and filling could outdo the Easter Bunny\u2019s. I\u2019m dubbing them \u201ckarat cakes\u201d because they\u2019re worth their weight in gold. Customers will also find blueberry muffins and ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with sea salt. Don\u2019t you dare leave Lavande Whisk without a Canadian date square; Elodie grew up making them with her grandmother in Ferme-Neuve, a tiny town about two hours north of Montreal.<\/p>\n

\"Whiskcookies\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

Follow the business on social media<\/a> to see what\u2019s baking each day. Recent offerings include gluten-free s\u2019mores cupcakes and slices of lemon lavender cake. Schedule a consultation with Elodie for custom sweet treats and sourdough and savory breads.<\/p>\n

Even though it was 85 degrees and sunny during my mid-August visit, I felt the time was right for a pumpkin latte. Talking with a kindergartener about movie monsters enhanced my spooky mood (Abiga\u00eblle is not a fan of Chucky, but Jason is OK).<\/p>\n

I followed my autumnal beverage with a Thunderbolt, homemade lemonade topped with a shot of espresso. I needed the extra caffeine to keep up with Abiga\u00eblle, who I later saw leading a group of patrons in a spirited rendition of The Village People\u2019s \u201cY.M.C.A.\u201d<\/p>\n

She gets that musicality and love of Pittsburgh from her dad.<\/p>\n

A.J. performed at The Smiling Moose<\/a> on the South Side so many times, he got the logo tattooed on his leg. A certified cicerone, he now tends bar at the beer-brewing company\u2019s Cranberry location, where Elodie tested a number of her cake recipes. The Moose\u2019s East Carson Street site closed in 2025 after more than two decades.<\/p>\n

\"Whiskdecor\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

In addition to being a suds aficionado, A.J. knows a thing or two about breakfast burritos; he regularly whips up batches based on a recipe he learned from his childhood bestie\u2019s abuelita. In the mood for more savory eats? The bakery shares a wall with Casa De Comida<\/a>, a bistro that\u2019s open for lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n

I plan to try one (or all) of Chef Edward S. Col\u00f3n\u2019s signature dishes, such as the Deconstructed Pierogi<\/a> (garlic butter, mashed potatoes, pasta and caramelized onions with house-blended cheese) on my next foodie road trip through Beaver County.<\/p>\n

The semi-rural suburb is located about 23 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. As a city-dweller, I don\u2019t say this often, but I really enjoyed the drive.<\/p>\n

\"Whiskfam\"<\/a><\/p>\n

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER<\/p>\n

The Condostas reside in Penn Hills, but they\u2019ve already been embraced by their business community. The spot was previously a coffee shop called Brewed Awakening; many regulars continue to support the new owners by making it part of their daily ritual.<\/p>\n

The family is slowly transforming the space, adding touches that celebrate their Canadian and punk rock heritage. Abiga\u00eblle is quite proud of the small sitting room, which has a floor lined with pennies. (If you\u2019re into old coins, visit the World\u2019s Fair of Money<\/a>, which runs through Aug. 29 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.)<\/p>\n

Life is all about change.<\/p>\n

Elodie, whose father died unexpectedly last year at age 56, says she didn\u2019t want to put her dream of owning a bakery on hold any longer.<\/p>\n

Following her heart is already paying off in Economy.\t<\/p>\n