In Tampa, a sweets shop has set out to prove that big things come in small packages. The original dessert experience that Marc Tauchnitz and his fiancé, Neyda “Tita” Ramirez, brought to Carrollwood back in January is called Tiny Bites — and it’s designed to not break the bank.
Taking over the former building of Smallcakes at 14398 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tiny Bites is what happened when Venezuelan bakery owner Ramirez, who immigrated to Florida from her birth country, decided to combine her cake expertise with the business acumen of bakery product salesperson Tauchnitz. The couple invites customers to satisfy their daily cravings at Tiny Bites, where a bunch of mini-desserts await under one roof.
These gourmet treats are crafted on the fly behind the order counter, meaning the shop has no need for a display case (there are, however, a limited number of premade offerings ready to go for convenience).
“Every Tiny Bite is made to order so there is no waste and nothing is hidden behind a kitchen wall,” Tauchnitz said in a statement.
A menu and video are featured at the register to help patrons pinpoint which indulgence they desire. The signature Tiny Bites consist of a sweet, chocolate or graham tart shell filled with flavors like blueberry cheesecake, peanut butter cup, pineapple, maple bacon, dulce de leche and lemon. But, seriously, there are so many to choose from — even a flavor of the week.
Other bite-size options up for grabs include French macarons, cake pops, ganache-covered eclairs, cannoli and cupcakes.
“We currently have 40 different combinations, with another 15-20 still to be developed,” according to Tauchnitz. “A customer can order three different desserts, have three different taste experiences and they don’t have to feel like they busted their diet.”
See? Think of them as tapas. Dessert tapas.
The best part is that no matter what a customer selects, each treat is affordably priced between $2 for one and $34 for a 24-pack.
Tauchnitz and Ramirez operate Tiny Bites from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
