Our Neighborhood Chef opens at Destiny USA

SYRACUSE — Our Neighborhood Chef, a new café and pastry shop offering locally baked goods, recently opened at Destiny USA.

“Our Neighborhood Chef showcases different chefs from local neighborhoods,” Maggie Levy, owner, said in a Destiny USA news release. “There are many talented culinary creators in our community, and we want to provide the platform to share their sweet treats.”

The shop outsources the majority of its desserts — various Italian cookies, slices of cakes, pies, pastries, and cannoli — to area shops like Biscotti’s Café, Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen, and more. However, Levy says that nine types of funnel cakes are made on site. Customers can also create their own funnel cake and even add fresh fruit.

Our Neighborhood Chef is located on Destiny USA’s 2nd level in the Canyon area, next to Razzle Dazzle. That establishment is known for serving Italian Ice and is also owned by Levy and her husband Reverend Curtis Levy. The food sold at both shops benefits a local ministry called Last House on the Block Ministries Transitional Housing, Inc. The ministry houses men and women recovering from substance abuse, mental-health issues, incarceration, or domestic violence. The goal is to help them learn to become productive members of society, per the release. Both Razzle Dazzle businesses help fund the agency in providing extra bedding, resources, staff, and other items the clients need.