November 21, 2025- Hunger Relief organization Rachel’s Table and local favorite European Bakery & Pastry have teamed up to bring something special to Worcester this week only, until November 26: Treat Week. What’ Up Worcester went down to 29 Millbury Street to meet owner/baker Casey Griswold and Alissa Schimmel, Director of Rachel’s Table, and learn more about Treat Week. We literally broke bread (Chocolate Babka) hot out of the oven, and got to know these inspiring (and fun) individuals. Video is forthcoming, so stay tuned.
Heroes Fight Hunger
We typically associate heroes with burning buildings and daring rescues, not baked goods or food rescue. But during Treat Week at European Bakery, every single dollar spent on the featured chocolate babka goes directly to Rachel’s Table, an organization that distributes donated and specially purchased foods—free of charge—to agencies that feed hungry families and individuals throughout Greater Worcester. Read on to learn more about the Babka, the organization,s and the people who care deeply about, as Schimel said, “ending hunger in Worcester“, an heroic mission.
Bakery Heroes: Teamwork
Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the sweet smells of bread rising and chocolate melting in the oven and the highly efficient cashier Marta, who is Eastern European. Her presence added authenticity to Griswald’s statement that “European Bakery is probably the only Kosher Polish bakery in New England,” with wholesale distribution to dozens of Northeast markets north of Hartford. And then there there is Debi, who Casey said, “Literally does everything…With a smile”, including regularly delivering fresh baked goods to Woo fridges. She gave the credit back to Casey, saying “He was the first vendor in Worcester committed to regular donation to Woo Fridge. He doesn’t donate day-old bread. He produces additional baked goods specifically to stock the fridges.”
Casey Griswold and his crew are very serious about producind the highest quality Kosher food, and since What’s Up Worcester visited during baking time, we weren’t able to go into the kitchen and disturb the highly efficient operation. Griswold said Krzysztof, the Head Baker, and his Assistant Baker Danny are critical to the bakery’s success. They are “the two guys that do the bulk of the bread and roll baking. They are machines.” They also appear to love what they do and gave us a kitchen tour after the work was done. Fun fact: Some of the most reliable machines at European Bakery are 70-90 years old! Classic, and very industrial-era Worcester.
The seemingly small crew at European Bakery & Pastry is actually a family-like machine for production and service to the community. The collaboration with Rachel’s Table is not a publicity stunt. These people really care about Worcester and their baked goods are divine!
European Bakery Babka is Awesome: Three Reasons
- Chocolate babka is a rich, sweet, braided bread with Eastern European Jewish origins made from a soft, buttery yeast dough that’s rolled out, spread with a chocolate filling—often a mix of cocoa, sugar, and melted chocolate or Nutella—then rolled up and twisted before baking. And it is well worth the $12 price tag for more than just the mouth-watering taste, but it is a holiday favorite and it sells fast.
- Chcolate babkat is just one offering that will knock your socks off and bring Eastern European flavor into your home. Another traditional year-round staple at Eurpoean bakery, said Casey, is “Seven Sisters Babka”, a beautiful flower-shaped doughy treat with sweet filling that would serve as the perfect hostess gift at holiday parties!
- Third, this week, up until Wednesday, when you buy the Chocolate Babka for your Thanksgiving or breakfast table, you are directly supporting food support for your neighbors through Rachel’s Table’s efforts.
Thirty-Six Years of Food Support in Worcester: Rachel’s Table
Since 1989, Rachel’s Table has rescued and distributed over 14.5 million pounds of food to shelters, youth programs, and families in need. Their Treat Week project is a way for local bakeries and cafés to turn their most-loved menu items into direct support for neighbors facing food insecurity, especially during the holiday season when demand sharply increases. The money collected goes towards food rescue, delivery, purchase and overhead costs of “providing fresh meals and food items to hunger relief agencies in Greater Worcester county” said Schimel. As the director, she overseas operations and identifies agencies for collaboration to fight hunger in Worcester: Hero!
She said Rachel’s Table was started by a group of Jewish women in 1989, who heard about food rescue missions in New York City where volunteers retrieved extra fresh items that would have been wasted from restaurants and donated it to individuals and shelters in need. These women “saw the need in Worcester (much like there is now) and started their own small mission which grew into what [we] have now; 45 regular donors and a volunteer team that dispatches missions all over Worcester County”, she said. Though Rachel’s table falls under the umbrella of Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts, Rachel’s table is not affiliated with any denomination, and their goal is to feed as many people as possible in our area, said Schimel.
However, the delicious mash-up of Rachel’s Table’s Treat Week with European Bakery & Pastry does mean those who require Kosher foods can enjoy Treat Week, too! There are only two other restaurants in Worcester certified to serve prepared Kosher food.
More That Sets European Bakery Apart: Kosher Explained
Don’t let the small storefront on Millbury Street fool you: European Bakery has a consistent flow of regular customers, many of whom speak Polish. Just find the red sign with the polish Eagle and walk inside. You will be greeted as if you, too, have been a regular. One customer during our visit said, “I come here every week for 30 years for my bread.” The staff knows their orders by heart. The bakery also has a beautiful display case shelves of authentic Eastern European foods such as pickled items, gorgeous jars of jams and bread accompaniments that make fine gifts. So, European Bakery is a local cultural gem and the ONLY family owned old school Kosher bakery in the city.
Co-owner and chef of 20 years, Casey Griswold gained ownership of the (30 years in operation) bakery with his brother Brett in 2020. Though he knew the ins and outs of kitchen operation, he said he took it very seriously to keep the same feel and authenticity of the bakery’s operation. He spent months learning the ins and outs of Kosher baking, aka preparation according to Jewish dietary laws, or kashrut. Specifically, European Bakery has the faciltiies and certification to produce Pareve (meat and dairy-free) and Pas Yisroel (a Jewish person is involved in the preparation of the baked good) that is safe for Jewish people who are obsevant of kashrut. The staff use several seperate ovens and stations to ensure Kosher preparation and have an oven that is only lit by a Rabbi, meaning it meets requirements for Pas Yisroel.
Kosher certification is done by overseeing bodies such as Vaad Ha’ir of Worcester. It is important that the Polish and Jewish populations in our city be represented and welcomed. The taste of the food is not affected by Kosher preparation (maybe it is better!) and the Babka, scones, breads and cookies are someting everyone in the city needs to try. It is a wonderful neighborhood spot right Kelley in square that: caters to everyone, actively works to address hunger in Worcester, provides speciality products to our Kosher-observant population and beyond, and really truly cares about this city.
Betsey Taft Kennedy, Managing Editor, What’s Up Worcester, betsey@whatsupworcester
We want to extend our sincerest thank you to Rachel’s Table and European Bakery for getting us in the know, so we can bring the information to our readers. The fact that two local heroes, Casey Griswold and Alissa Schimmel, took time out of their busy Friday end-of-the week schedules to interview with What’s Up Worcester…with a smile…speaks volumes about their character and care for the City of Worcester’s residents.
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