Pete's Sweets a delectable business for high school junior


Peter Gray, a junior at East Longmeadow High School, spends his free time perfecting his business, Pete's Sweets. Reminder Publications photo by Lori Szepelak

By Lori Szepelak

Correspondent

EAST LONGMEADOW An extensive array of cookbooks -- many worn from use over the years -- neatly line the nooks of the Gray family's kitchen on Redin Lane. While Mary Gray uses them on a regular basis, it is her son Peter who can be found most times looking for the next intriguing recipe to try.

Peter Gray, 17, is a young man on a mission -- to make people happy with his confections. Gray is currently a junior at East Longmeadow High School, and spends his free time filling orders for his candies and baked goods business, Pete's Sweets.

On a recent late morning visit during school vacation, Gray was busy putting the finishing touches on an order for a batch of vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting. Pete's Sweets is a family affair but "school comes first," Mary Gray said.

"My mom is always there to help me, whether that is running to the store to get some last-minute ingredients, or helping me dip hundreds of pretzels," Peter said. "She's always there to help me when I need it the most."

Peter added that his dad, Brian Gray, "foots the bill," explaining that in addition to financial assistance, his father provides him with invaluable advice on how to come up with the appropriate costs for materials.

"Both my parents make my business what it is," he added.

What started as a fourth grade project for school has blossomed over the years into a home-based business that puts a smile on Peter's face whenever he sells his confections.

"I like to make people happy and this is surely one sweet way to do so," he said.

Peter garners most of his recipes from the cookbooks that line the shelves of the family's kitchen, as well as some tried and true recipes from his paternal grandmother.

"I didn't really cook with my grandmother because I was very young and she passed away before I was old enough to be around food and cooking," he said. "When I was old enough to start cooking and baking, I used all of her recipes."

Soon Peter will be applying to culinary schools including Johnson & Wales University and the Culinary Institute of America. This past summer, he attended a three-day weekend course at Johnson & Wales that centered on bakery and chocolatier lessons.

Both Peter and his parents expect hefty tuition bills in the coming years, but Peter looks forward to the training that will one day help him fulfill a lifelong dream -- to open a bakery and caf in Western Massachusetts.

After perusing a portfolio of recent confectionary creations, it is easy to imagine his future bakery shelves lined with pies, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, fresh fruit baskets, chocolate-dipped strawberries and colorful chocolate lollipops.

Peter's Web site -- www.freewebs.com/petessweetscandies -- features many of his mouth-watering confections, all reasonably priced. For example, round cakes range in price from $18 to $30, while sheet cakes can be ordered in prices ranging from $15 to $45. Cake flavors include chocolate, vanilla, marble, white chocolate, double chocolate, chocolate chip, coconut, red velvet, strawberry, carrot, lemon and orange. Wedding cakes are also available with delivery service provided.

"Shape cake prices will vary," Peter said, adding that all cakes need to be ordered a minimum of 48 hours before the expected delivery date. Ideally, a week's notice for any order is appreciated.

Peter's frosting flavors include buttercream, chocolate buttercream and peanut butter, and fillings for cakes include chocolate and vanilla pudding, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, vanilla custard, chocolate mousse, white chocolate mousse, mocha mousse and peanut butter.

A special segment of Peter's Web site also features holiday specials, which currently include Peppermint Bark, Crushed Peppermint Marshmallows, Real Peppermint Stick Ice Cream, Grandma's Hot Cocoa, Yule Log and Chewy Gingerbread Boys and Girls.

Peter also touts his candy line, which includes chocolate-covered pretzels in a variety of designs as well as chocolate peppermint bark.

When this writer first met Peter earlier in December, he was selling his signature chocolates at a holiday craft show at Grace Lutheran Church in West Springfield. Sales were good, he said, but added that all the crafters agreed that sales were not as brisk as in previous years. As the new year unfolds, Peter is optimistic and plans to participate in at least four craft shows as well as continue to grow his Web site business. As Valentine's Day also quickly approaches, he expects to expand on his solid chocolate offerings.

"It's always a pleasure to bring my sweets to local customers and to hear how they enjoyed them," he said.

For more information on Pete's Sweets, call Peter at 265-6297 or e-mail him at petes-sweets@hotmail.com.

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