Sweet Moon Cafe & Bakery, the cherished Ravenswood bakery, has expanded to a new location in Wilmette. Known for its “Medovik” or Russian honey cake, the bakery features honey-based layers with tangy sour cream. Located at 1222 Washington Court, Sweet Moon is conveniently situated across from the village’s Metra station and offers a variety of fusion-style baked goods from across the globe.
Owner Aigerim Mambetova, who immigrated from Kyrgyzstan in 2012, runs the bakery alongside her husband Marlen Alchinov and niece Zhannat Raiymbek Kyzy, who oversees both locations. The bakery’s renowned honey cake showcases thin, cookie-like layers filled with sour cream and honey.
Mambetova explained her decision to open the original Sweet Moon in Chicago stemmed from a lack of suitable desserts. “Everything was too sweet and too chemical,” she revealed. Initially baking at home for personal enjoyment, her creations gained popularity among friends and the local community, leading to the decision to start selling them. The Ravenswood Sweet Moon recently marked its five-year milestone.
The new Wilmette cafe offers a selection of Eastern European, Slavic, and American pastries. Additionally, it includes various breakfast and lunch options. Mambetova emphasizes that all cakes and pastries are handmade from scratch, drawing from traditional recipes from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the U.S. Baking starts at midnight and continues through early morning, ensuring fresh products at both storefronts daily.
In 2021, when Sweet Moon first opened, Mambetova and her husband managed all the baking themselves, working extensive hours. With a larger team now in place, she focuses more on refining recipes and managing operations. It took her approximately three years to finalize the menu. Lacking formal pastry training, Mambetova learned to prepare Sweet Moon’s signature items such as syrniki, a cheesy Eastern European pancake, through online resources.
The Kiev cake, an adaptation of the Kyiv cake, stands out among the bakery’s offerings. This Ukrainian treat features layers of hazelnut or cashew meringue, interspersed with chocolate and vanilla buttercream.
Manager Raiymbek Kyzy shared that Mambetova initially disliked baking. Her newfound appreciation emerged from not finding her desired pastries locally. A popular drink at the bakery is their sea buckthorn tea, made from nutrient-rich berries imported from Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan.
The duo looks forward to introducing Wilmette residents to Sweet Moon’s offerings. Raiymbek Kyzy noted the warm reception from the community, contrasting their interactions with customers in Ravenswood. In Wilmette, visitors often engage with staff and express their enjoyment.
Sweet Moon’s newest location, opened less than a week ago, plans a launch event for community members shortly. The cafe operates from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., closing on Tuesdays. An assortment of pastries, coffee, tea, breakfast, and sandwiches are available until closing.
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