When you step into SweetStory, you know you’ve entered someplace special. This bakery in Old Town Sherwood sets the scene to delight not only your taste buds, but also your imagination. I stopped in one Friday on my way to the Renaissance Homes community at Rychlick Farm in Sherwood. The darling shop is less than half a mile away on the other side of 99W on Railroad Street. A grand chandelier drapes from the ceiling, bouncing light into the glass desert cases, as if the gourmet cookies, bars and cakes needed more reason to shine. I am temporarily paralyzed as I admire the lemon ricotta cake. I am greeted by the owner, Michelle, a pastry chef who founded SweetStory with her husband. She gives me the low-down on some of her favorite treats: homemade kitkat bars, caramel brownies and the famous ‘betty bar,’ to name a few. She’s also fond of the artisan scones; the chocolate chip scone is said to garner rave reviews -- not too sweet with a delicate texture and chocolate drizzled on top. The strawberry rhubarb bar just came into rotation as the weather is warming up. It’s sweet, and a bit sour. I personally think there should be a ‘kick’ to go along with a sweet, so this creation fits the bill. Another divine treat: the chocolate wine and raspberry macaroon — another apparent favorite. The cookie has a rich, chocolaty crunch with a nice wine undertone that pairs seamlessly with the raspberry filling. Are you hungry yet? If you want to plan ahead on your indulgence, SweetStory can design cookies and cakes for any occasion -- Disney movie themed cupcakes, five-tiered wedding cakes, cake pops that look like soccer balls, you name it. When I visited, the bakers were busy decorating a custom birthday cake. Michelle is excited to tell me she and her staff just finished raising money through the online site Kickstarter to move into a larger and very historic location, the Lavender Tea House. They will be fully moved into the new location at the end of April. SweetStory has become increasingly busy and needs the extra space to bake classic treats and its signature custom cakes. We’re excited to see the new place! For more information about SweetStory, visit www.sweetstorybakery.com. Live close by at Renaissance at Rychlick Farm. For more information, visit http://renaissance-homes.com/renaissance-at-rychlick-farms.Renaissance Homes is an award winning Street of Dreams custom home builder specializing in green building, remodeling and renovations for the Portland market. Visit our Design Studio to personalize your next home. [caption id="attachment_14360" align="alignright" width="296"] Rachel Sebastian visited SweetStory in Sherwood near Renaissance at Rychlick Farm.[/caption]