Tiburon has gotten sweeter with the opening of Jane/Marin
Aside from adding a few gluten-free and vegan options to an extensive assortment of alluring cakes, pies, cookies, pastries and other confections, Sweet Things bakery in Tiburon has remained true to old-fashioned, all-American desserts for more than four decades. Owners Marsha Lasky and Sharon Leach have maintained a steadfast commitment to meticulously consistent, traditionally crafted temptations since they founded the business in 1977.
Rather than considering shuttering their enduring legacy when they were contemplating retirement, they reached out to professional baker Amanda Michael, founder and owner of Jane (Michael’s daughter’s name), a bakery and café group in San Francisco with a similar approach to straightforward, classic baking.
Last November, Michael not only took on Sweet Things in Tiburon (now called Jane/Marin), but also the location in San Francisco that Lasky and Leach opened in 1997 as well as an expansive wholesale component.
“I always had an eye across the bridge (to Marin), but hadn’t been actively looking,” says Michael, who considers Lasky and Leach pioneers for women in business and expresses how impressed she’s always been with all that they’ve built.
The Tiburon bakery remained opened until construction began in June and as Michael got acquainted with the staff, some of whom have been there for decades, she mindfully determined how best to combine the two businesses.
The melded menu features some of the best of both — cakes, pies, tarts, cookies, bars, pastries and seasonal selections from Sweet Things and Jane’s artisan breads, croissants, kouign-amann, turnovers and cookies. All are made from scratch daily and shift seasonally.
“It’s not a business that needed a big overhaul at all,” Michael says. “The (Sweet Things) classics are great. I love them and would never change that.”
She adds that the layer cakes have been a go-to for her kids’ birthdays for years.
The refrigerator case holds six fresh grab-and-go salads such as Asian chicken, cowboy barbecue chicken and vegan rainbow hummus along with take-and-bake cookies. Caffeinated drinks are made from an Equator Coffees bean blend and herbal teas and smoothies are available.
Summer construction entailed creating a more open retail space by removing the wall separating the Sweet Things bake shop and former gift, clothing and home goods store At Home that Lasky and Leach opened in 2003.
The tantalizing display case of sweets now extends across the rear wall, and a small set of tables remains in the corner by the entry. Petaluma graffiti muralist Magdalena Gross created a vibrant statement with a wide painted swath of red, orange and yellow swipes around the perimeter below the ceiling.
Michael grew up in San Francisco, and during college at University of California, Berkeley, worked in restaurant kitchens, fell in love with baking and didn’t get out until her professional trajectory was interrupted by motherhood. When her children were old enough, she decided to open her first bakery, Jane on Fillmore, in 2011.
Jane on Larkin and the beginning of a robust bread program and full catering department followed in 2013, Jane the Bakery on Geary Boulevard in 2016, Toy Boat by Jane on Clement Street in 2020 and Little Jane on Grant in 2022.
Jane/Marin is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays in the Cove Shopping Center at 1 Blackfield Drive in Tiburon. To view the full menu, place orders for pickup or delivery or find information on catering or shipping, go to itsjane.com.
Making a difference
ExtraFood, a Kentfield-based nonprofit organization that recovers excess fresh food from businesses, schools and gardens to reduce waste and delivers it to people throughout the Bay Area facing food insecurity, will have its second annual Fall Festival and 10th anniversary celebration from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 8 in Larkspur.
Chef Heidi Krahling, owner of San Anselmo restaurants Insalata’s and Marinitas and an ExtraFood founding board member, will prepare carnitas tacos, grilled chicken kebobs, a fall grain salad and cilantro mint chutney. These dishes, specialty foods from ExtraFood donors and partners, including Comforts in San Anselmo and Whole Foods Market, and beer and wine are part of the ticket price.
Event highlights include live music by local band Dore Coller’s Manouche Magic, guest speakers such as Assemblymember Damon Connolly, cheese tastings and giveaways. An online auction is live on the website from Oct. 4 through 10 and features courtside Warriors tickets, autographed items from Carlos Santana, wine tastings, getaways and more.
The Fall Festival takes place under the big tent at the Marin Country Mart at 2257 Larkspur Landing Circle in Larkspur. Reserve tickets ($45, under 18 free) at extrafood.org, where you’ll also find information about sponsorship packages and can learn how your North Bay school, grocery store, farmers market, catering company/event, bakery, corporation, congregation, civic organization, hospital, backyard or community garden can participate in ExtraFood.
Event proceeds go to supporting the expansion of ExtraFood’s meal-making and gleaning work and their partnership with Food Runners San Francisco.
Leanne Battelle is a freelance food writer and restaurant columnist. Email her at ij.lbattelle@gmail.com with news and recommendations and follow on Instagram @therealdealmarin for more on local food and updates on the launch of The Real Deal Marin restaurant search guide.