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Categories: Desserts, Bakeries, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt [Edit]
Neighborhood: Lincoln SquareWed-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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I love Sweet Collective! This place makes excellent chocolates and snacks.
I came in here earlier this year because I wanted to just buy a little surprise for the woman I was dating. She had been really sweet to me the last couple of days and I wanted to give her some sweets back - So I stopped in here, picked out several chocolates I thought she would like, as well as a carmel, choclate popcorn mix - and it turns out, she loved them all!
I came back again to buy a gift for her little sister over the summer on her birthday - needless to say, the entire box was gone that same night!
The shop is very small, but it leaves them a lot of room to make all of their delicious treats. Stop in, you wont be disappointed.
I have heard SO MUCH about Sweet Collective that I decided to try them out for a friend's birthday. My goal was to purchase TONS of delicious sweets- and present them to him on a couple of beautiful platters.
I drove over to Sweet Collective- and was able to spot it down the street by the lovely green sign proclaiming BAKERY! SCORE- parking directly in front- no need to feed the meter box.
It is small, do not be surprised. I get the feeling that MAYBE they are not used to too much walk in business. The selection of bakery items available for immediate purchase was a bit sparse. In fact- I pretty much bought them out. 4 vanilla mini cupcakes with a dollop of frosting, 4 chocolate mini cupcakes with frosting too! All the mini cupcakes had a cut oval of Fondant on top- just to make them fancy! At .85 cents (I think) a cupcake- they were a steal! 3 red velvet mini whoopi pies concluded the ready to eat portion! I also picked up a small (and I mean small!) peanut butter and chocolate cake covered in fondant (14$). It was darling and went with my mini treat plate spectacular plan.
I did not try to the chocolates- they looked great- but I had not purchased any bowls, etc. to give to my friend.
I decided to also pick up a couple of pints for balance. I chose a ginger pear sorbet (ROCK STAR) and an Apple, Pear, Champagne Cider Sorbet . I wanted to eat it all- not share it- and keep it for myself. If I would have tasted this first- he would have NEVER gotten it. I mean- I like the guy- but come on :)!
These treats were pretty great! I never got a chance to try the cake- but let me tell ya- the boy never got the red velvet pies- so everything is good!
I will be back. If I have the occasion, I will order ahead!
Being thin is overrated--right?!?! At least that is what I tell myself when I wish to gorge on some delectable delights of chocolate like this place has to offer. How is it that this little piece of heaven has been in the neighborhood for a year & I dumbly missed it?!?!? Thank goodness Yelp is feeding my sweet tooth or else I might shrivel up & die. Oh wait, hmm maybe I would be thin instead--ah there is the rub.
I happened upon Sweet Collective while they were hosting their one year anniversary party & oh was it a party. There were delights as far as the eye can see--well, it is not the biggest place in the universe--so you can get an eyeful in about a minutes time. They had everything from cake, to candies, ice-cream, champagne & ever so orgasmic hot chocolate. I had fun checking out all they had to offer.
A few highlights:
Fulton Market Chocolate piece--it was such a surprise to bite into that little thing & taste BACON!! I was informed by Lauren that in fact it was not bacon, but the smoke I was tasting. It was very good.
Hot Chocolate--OMG!! It was so good, rich, and intense--that i have go back for more. Plus, they add their own homemade marsh mellows.
Another highlight was having a chance to chat up Lauren, she is very knowledgeable, friendly and approachable.
I will most certainly be back for a sweet fix.
Thanks for the clarification - my review then only applies to the Ruth and Phil's Ice Cream component. Like I said, lots of bright spots, and I'll definitely be back. What they did well was excellent, and constructive criticism can be very helpful!
I bought a custom birthday ice cream cake so I feel that I can intelligently speak to 2 out of the 3… Read more »
If you're looking to go into a sugar coma then Sweet Collective is a pretty decent place to get your fix. Maybe one of the smallest sweet shops I have gone in to. Three of us went in and could barely fit in the place. Sweet Collective serves up truffles, sorbets, ice cream cakes and few other sugar goodies. The truffles are good but not the best. Sure the prices are on the high side but its not like you're eating this stuff every day, or at least I hope you're not. What is even better then the truffles are the sorbets choices. I think I might of sampled almost every flavor before finally picking which one to get a scoop of. The staff who works here is great they are more then happy to answer questions and let you sample.
I was in Chicago last weekend and after gorging on a spicey thali from Ghareeb Nawaz I had a sudden craving for something sweet ... but where to go?! I suddenly remembered all the rave reviews I had seen for Sweet Collective and so we stopped by this local sweet shop for a taste.
The shop was surprisingly small with a display case with chocolates, one with mini cupcakes and a cooler with ice cream. There's also a small table and chair if you want to linger and indulge in the sweets. In order to give a fair review I decided that I really must try a little bit of everything ... or my review would lack any validity ... um, yeah so that's why I walked out of the shop with 3 gourmet chocolates, 6 mini cupcakes, a bowl of ice cream, a caramel and a sugar cookie. You'd be surprised to know that I exercised self-control here because I wanted more - I have an insatiable sweet tooth.
I was impressed with the ice cream flavors, they were all incredibly inventive ... almost complicated. I'm a simple ice cream girl - green tea, mint, that's about it so I tried one of the tamer flavors chocolate orange tea. It was tasty and sweet, I liked the hint of orange flavor. The single caramel I picked up was strangely addictive, it was both sweet yet salty.
I *love* that the chocolates are named after neighborhoods in the city, next time I want to give a gift that's supposed to "represent" Chicago I'll pick up a box of these chocolates. We tried the Devon, Gold Coast and the beer truffles. The Devon was tasty with its mix of spices, it tasted more masala chai than garam masala which I actually prefer. The other two were dark chocolate (the beer truffle had dark chocolate shell with milk chocolate filling) which I'm not a big fan of but I reminded myself that good reviewers sometimes try food they don't like and so I "forced" myself to try them anyways - I think I might have to return and force myself to eat a few more. I definitely will skip the Godivas this Christmas for mom and pick her up a box of chocolates here if I can swing through Chicago before the holiday.
And finally what I truly love - cupcakes and sugar cookies, my favorite types of sweets and these more than met my expectations. The mini cupcakes were cute with their Halloween decorations. The woman told me they're best at room temperature but I couldn't wait and tried one right away. I definitely recommend waiting, not because they don't taste good chilled but when they're room temp the cake is moist and the frosting is perfect. The cookie was delicious as well.
So it's probably best I don't live in Chicago anymore because if I did I'd probably end up a 100 pounds heavier and quite a bit poorer (quality product means slightly higher prices but these aren't your off the shelf sweets).
My only suggestion ... maybe some green tea/matcha flavored sweets? I'm thinking a matcha flavored chocolate to represent Lakeview's former demographic when it was "Japantown" as well as matcha cakes and of course matcha (and mochi?!) ice cream. I might just forgo school and move back to Chicago if that happened and spend the rest of my days indulging on sweets.
After living in the neighborhood for almost a year, I had somehow never seen this place. It's a tiny storefront obviously easy to miss, but after a stroke of luck I stumbled across it on Valentine's Day and I'll definitely be back.
We try to keep it fairly healthy at home, but definitely have a sweet tooth. So what's nice about Sweet Collective are all the mini offerings. I left with a couple chocolate dipped strawberries from Rich Chocolates, and a chocolate cake w/chocolate ganache petits four and a red velvet with cream cheese filling petits four from Sugar Syndicate that made up an awesome sampler platter for dessert that night. It came to $7.99, a little pricey but extremely reasonable considering the variety and quality we got, but even better we didn't get that guilty feeling we usually have after we eat a piece of chocolate cake the size of Rhode Island. After the weather warms up I plan on sampling from the ice cream cooler as well.
Search these gals out - friendly service and incredible offerings for every size appetite!
It was at the 2008 Yelp Prom that I was introduced to the delicious goodness of "Sweet Collective"
It was there, that they enticed me with their mini Creme Brulees, their "Spiked Punch" sorbet and their delicious Red Velvet cakes!
So I took a business card, knowing I couldn't stay away.
Very smart "drug" pushers these vixens are.
Came the day that I was "jonesing" I found my way to their den of iniquity. (parking available right out front)
Chocolates, sorbets/ice-creams and baked goods, all homemade, all in under one roof...how dare they!
I bought the hubby a box of homemade truffles and a bag of "Pistachio Cinnamon Chocolate Toffee'.
I CAN'T be the only "addict" in the house!
He too, is now along for the ride!
But of course I walked away with my own "fix"...the mini Creme Brulees.
Today, I brought my youngest there, yes, call DCFS, I'm hooking her up too.
We had: samples of Chocolate Chili Cinnamon Sorbet and Cherry Soda Sorbet (we could of tried them all if we wanted)
But we ordered a scoop of Strawberry Cassis Cheesecake Ice Cream and the Pomegranate Raspberry Tea Sorbet.
They give you just enough to wet your whistle but leave you wanting more.
YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT TO PEOPLE, LADIES!!!!
There was a couple there today, sampling wedding cakes...little do they know what's in store for them in their matrimonial future...they will be back, or yes, they will be back.
P.S. On my next run for the "stuff" I will be trying the "Windy City" collection of chocolates, chocolates with names of "Humboldt Park", "Devon Ave", "Pilsen", etc. how can I stay away?!?!
I'd first heard about them from a party I attended "Yelp Prom" (P.S they have a flavor of sorbet named after that party, its fruity with rum. Yum!) At the party I sampled their Velvet cake (my first ever taste of this much talked about dessert) it was awesome. Check out the photo section, they are the size of a mini cupcake. Just awesome and light. You can throw down five before realizing what you've done. Still, you'd go for more. I also sampled the Yelp Prom sorbet and a few of their handmade chocolate truffles.
The velvet cake and the sorbet were calling to me. I had to go find more! Funny, I live nearby, seen this place numerous times but, never "really" noticed it. Its not that it's hard to find. Its very easy. Ample parking right out on the street.
I stopped in the other day to quench my dessert craving and gather some goodies for a relatives birthday. I got a hodgepodge for a little over $20 with tax. Velvet cake shots, mini cupcakes, a few truffles and a pint of the Yelp Prom sorbet. (If the display counters are running low on stock, just ask, they have more in the back!) After my purchase I'd realized that they had an actual size velvet cake, enough to serve four for only $12! (I think) Bargain on goodness! And another reason for my next craving.
By the way, look through the truffles, I love their descriptions, named after areas of the city. Each distinct to the area of the city.
Cool.
We ordered the cake for our 10/17/08 wedding from The Sugar Syndicate branch of this cool cooperative. It was a hit! Owner Cathay Rayhill was excellent to work with from the start. She is friendly, thorough, and runs an e-mail-friendly business (unlike other bakers and vendors who require you "come in" or call to discuss pricing -- isn't it best to not waste either of our time and tell me up front if I can afford you?), which is great when you're trying to plan your wedding between meetings and work deadlines.
Our tasting was awesome - she actually gave us three small cakes instead of the industry-standard slices.
The wedding cake turned out phenomenal. It tasted delicious (when does wedding cake ever actually taste good?) and looked adorable. A week after the wedding, my friend left a comment on my facebook page that the cake was still making appearances in her dreams. And my husband's cousin e-mailed his aunt about how cute the cake was.
I hope that Cathay opens a full-size bakery someday. Our family members have decided that The Sugar Syndicate must replace Dinkel's as our go-to bakery when my husband and I are responsible for bringing dessert.
I've heard and seen so much buzz about The Sugar Syndicate since signing our contract. I can't wait to see what the future holds for this cool, independent business.
Holy sugar rush! I'm in love.
What happens when a cake wizard, chocolate genuis and ice cream superstar join forces? Sweet Collective.
Ok, so they were off to a good start with me because these three items are my three favorite food groups, and smaller pieces of a puzzle I like to call "things that call to me from my dreams."
I tried a little bit of everything, and all of it was sweet. (pun intended). I tried a mini chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting. Ok, I am glad it was a mini because after eating it I thought "oh yeah, I could eat a pound of that, no problem.) Also tried an almond joy chocolate...coconut and cocoa perfection, melt in my mouth sugar nirvana. Also sampled the mint chocolate chip ice cream, refreshing and smooth. Top it off with some french pressed (Metropolis, no less) coffee...and I was one happy, sugar-high camper.
Very small seating are (4 people max), but just enough room to enjoy the goodies. Cute little storefront north of Lincoln Square. Just think, cute Lincoln Square bakery...but you can park! And you won't be run over by strollers, either.
Try it. They are awesome.
When it comes to sweets, I don't discriminate. I love them all: cakes, ice cream, candy. I don't care how a dessert shows up, as long as it shows up. So imagine my glee when I discovered this place.
Three female pastry chefs, each with their own individual business, brought their shops together under one roof, creating the Sweet Collective. The Sugar Syndicate is a boutique bakery that specializes in custom cakes for special occasions. And if your special occasion is called "Monday is over," you can stop in for small individual treats like petits fours, mini-Danishes, bite-size cookies, tartlets, and more.
Ruth & Phil's Gourmet Ice Cream is a retail and wholesale store that sells ice cream, sorbet, and other frozen treats . While you can always get your more familiar flavors like Butter Pecan, Strawberry, Vanilla, the combinations can go pretty wild here. For example, the last time I stopped in, I tried the watermelon lime tequila combo.
Finally, Rich Chocolates & Candies offers handmade, skillfully crafted chocolates that are almost too beautiful to eat. Of course, after one bite, I was glad I DID eat it. These specialty sweets come in themes, including the Whimsy Collection (based on classic American desserts like pecan pie) and the Barfly Collection (based on popular cocktails). However, the most intriguing is the Windy City collection, inspired by Chicago's neighborhoods. The "Taylor Street" (located in the city's Little Italy 'hood) tastes just like a cannoli, while the "Pilsen" (Chicago's south side Mexican area) has a bit of a spicy kick to it.
Three dessert shops under one roof? That's one sweet deal.
I have a serious girl crush on all 3 of the Sweet Collective ladies right now.
I've wanted to stop by their shop ever since Yelp Prom, where I practically cleaned out the sweets table singlehandedly (sorry - I couldn't help myself!) and this weekend it finally happened. All I have to say is I'm glad it's a trek from my apartment, otherwise I'd probably blow all of my money on sweets and gradually expand in the waist-region. Please, don't ever move your shop.
I sampled a bit of everything but my favorite is probably the "Pilsen" chocolate - it's got a spicy kick to it that I can't get enough of. I would eat them by the handful if I could afford it. The ice cream sandwiches are also fantastic - I had a Nutella cookie with chocolate ice cream. You really can't go wrong with Nutella... ever. The ginger cookies with Guinness ice cream at prom were equally delicious. I also got a chocolate mini-cupcake - not quite as good as the legendary red velvet (I'm in love with theirs and I don't even LIKE red velvet that much!) but still pretty tasty. They even threw in a few cute little sugar cookies as a Yelper bonus!
Sweet Collective is a bit more expensive than your corner bakery but the treats they make are on a completely different level and worth every penny.
I can't wait to go back and sample some more.
EDIT: I went back and sampled some more. Their chocolate chili cinnamon ice cream is pretty much the best thing ever. I want to swim in it.
I checked out the anniversary party and was wowed by the assortment of lovingly created sweets. The caramel corn with hazelnuts and chocolate drizzle was the standout for me. I also greatly enjoyed a truffle with a mint filling so sharp I thought it was rosemary or thyme, and then was pleasantly reminded that it was fresh mint, which is in fact a herb, and not merely a dulled down artificial flavoring. Wonderful toffee as well.
Prices are steep, but you are getting something local and high quality. Will definitely be back the next time fancy sweets are called for and I'm not "sugar cleansing" like Jennifer B ;^).
I stopped in with my co-worker to take a look at Sweet Collective's goodies.
Wow! I was really impressed. Lauren told us about each person's business and gave us many samples of yum yums. I sampled the spiked punch sorbet and loved it, so I picked up a pint. I want to try the chocolates next time because the flavors sounded incredible...and because I heart fine chocolates. A lot.
Spread the word, because Sweet Collective rocks!
Sweet Collevtive is a cute little spot that holds 3 companies under one roof. Here you can get fabulous chocolates and candies from Rich. Beautiful cakes, desserts and decorated cookies are made from the Sugar Syndicate and fresh and flavorful ice creams from Ruth and Phils Gourmet Ice Cream. Make sure to try the lemon and pine nut toffee or passionfruit orange sorbet!
This Place is Incredible! I highly recommend you to check this place out! Perfect if youre looking for unique cakes, great chocolates and supurb ice cream flavors! Sit and have a cup of coffee and enjoy something sweet!!
Three different owners, 3 different products. Located in a tiny storefront north of Lincoln Square, these are the best pastries, ice cream and chocolate I've ever had in Chicago. Hyperbole you ask?
Rich definitely has the best chocolate (if you think Vogses is great then you need to re-educate your taste buds. If you like Ethel's, then god help you. Coco Rouge, I'll give you a pass, but definitely not as consistently good) AND the best toffee (sorry Terry's). So I'm saying you should try it. Right now.
Ruth and Phil's ice cream and sorbets are amazing. I don't know of anywhere else in Chicago where you can find such unique artisan frozen desserts. I'm a huge sorbet fan (i like fruit) so having small batches of unique flavors made with seasonally fresh and local ingredients is awesome. The passion fruit orange tea is fantastic (ok, passionfruit probably isn't local), I've got a pint of pear apple cider champagne sorbet in the freezer right now (and it tastes exactly like it sounds...awesome) and for a little something completely different how about green apple cucumber red pepper? Yup. There are some more traditional flavors as well, but this stuff is one of a kind, you can't find it anywhere else.
Ever see that show Ace of Cakes? The sugar Syndicate is like a one woman version of that, with some amazing looking cakes, but unlike that guy there are also mini treats for sale on a daily basis - decorated cookies, mini creme brulee, and small everyday cakes perfect for a romantic dinner for 2 you can walk right out the door with. Definitely the coolest cakes I've ever seen in person, and delicious bite sized treats as well.
In conclusion: Best place for pastries in chicago. Go there now. Unless they are closed, then you might want to wait till they are open.
After picking up the kid from school, I spotted this place as we were heading our way over to the zoo... it was one of those moments that went like, "Hey look at that cute little place... cookies... cakes... ok. I see a parking space right there. Let's go check it out!"
The mini cupcakes caught my eye right away because they were so cute with big puffs of buttercream topped off with either a sugary dinosaur or stars on yellow or chocolate cakeyness.
Then I just picked out a bunch of truffles.
As soon as we got into the car we ate the cupcakes. The buttercream was the perfect melt in your mouth consistency and the sugar topping added a nice texture of sweet crumble... Then of course the cake... moist! Sorry Molly's on Clark... Cathay has my vote for Best cupcake in Chicago...
Then the truffles by Lauren of Rich Chocolates & Candies... I can't remember what I got exactly because I wanted to try it all and had to control myself by just going, "ok... 2 of those, those, those, and those..."
After gobbling the cupcakes, i followed up with the truffles... (Man I was pigging out!)... Melted in my mouth. the burst of different flavors was perfect... Oh wait! I remember now! One of them was the Key lime pie truffle. That was my favorite.
Sweet Collective is awesome.
I'll go for the gelato next time =)
Last week end my husband suprised me with a beautifully-wrapped box of chocolates and miniature cakes from The Sugar Syndicate and Rich Chocolates and Candies (of the Sweet Collective.) Everything was fresh, delicious- and cute to boot. What a sweet spot for something special!
First off, I will start by saying the woman in the shop that day (the ice cream lady) had to stop me from trying to buy a bit of everything. Since when did you hear of a proprietor telling you that maybe you should save something for next time? I think she worried for the SO and his wallet. That being said I had a little bit of everything the first time I was there.
A little bit of ice cream... I love how she uses fresh seasonal ingredients in her products. I love even more how she let us sample all sorts of different flavours. Its like the freshness of grandma's homemade ice cream but with tastes my grandma never would have come up with. This is the kind of place where the tastes change so much that if you have been here once, you have been here once.
A little bit of baked goods... We got an everyday cake with keylime. That wee little cake is soo decadent that we were able to get about eight pieces off of it. Plus there were the little pastries.
And last, but certainly not least, the chocolates... I opted for a few from the Windy City Collection. So rich they were that the SO and I were able to bite and pass, allowing us to share in the flavour of a single piece.
Sure you see stuff like this in Lincoln Park, or up and coming neighborhoods. But not tucked away on Lincoln, away from the traffic of Lincoln Square. Which is why I must talk about it so others know of it. Do not let it go by the wayside. Take the time to go up there. Sadly, I have not made it in again, even though she made sure that I did not buy everything the first time. But I will be back, for the peanut butter everyday cake calls to me. And you gottaa love that name, makes eating a cake everyday a-ok.
(4 stars until I go back. They had the best customer service and attitudes when they first opened... will it last?)
I was excited to hear about Sweet Collective's open house on Yelp--they're located two blocks from my apartment! My roommate and I stopped by during the earlier part of the event so we could be sure to get a nice sampling of everything. Some thoughts:
Ice cream: Excellent. I'm notoriously critical of ice cream and chocolate, but their peppermint marshmallow ice cream is well worth the price (it's not cheap). I'll be back for more.
Caramel corn: Frankly, I don't like popcorn. But I do like having some caramel corn in small doses, and theirs was good.
Creme brulee: These are cute--they serve the creme brulee as tiny cookies topped with custard and sugar. They're good, but the presentation is what's fun.
Marshmallows: Yum!
Hot chocolate: Never ask me what I think of the hot chocolate. The last two times someone asked, I tried to be polite about my tastes, but you have to understand that I always make hot chocolate at home from vanilla, large doses of Valrhona cocoa (imported from France), sugar, milk, and fresh whipped cream (add a little confectioner's sugar to cold heavy cream and whip for a while). I don't think I've ever had hot chocolate at a restaurant that I found satisfactory. Unfortunately, Sweet Collective's version was no exception--at the open house, the milk tasted burnt. It's possible that it would be better on another day.
I went with my (pregnant) friend who wanted ice cream, chocolate and cake. I found this place on yelp and it was everything I had hoped it would be. It was quite when we went so we were able to enjoy ourselves and catch up without being bothered. The chocolates were very good as was the coffee.
I got to sample some of the goods at a Chicago Social wedding event - cake, ice cream and chocolate...mmm. I checked out the shop in person because we're thinking about using truffles for our wedding favors. It's seriously some of the best chocolate I've ever had with familiar flavors like s'mores and german chocolate cake. But my favorite is the mint chocolate chip - is so unbelievably fresh-tasting. And the overall cost is pretty good compared to the bigger companies.
But visiting the store and talking with the owners made me want to come back again and again. They let me sample a few flavors of the gourmet ice cream and there's lots of bite-sized sweets to try.
This review is for the ice - cream third of the business.
I ordered some of the Marshmallow Candy Cane icecream for my baby shower- and it was a fantastic contribution to the party.
I am excited to try other flavors of this hand made gourmet icecream.
The Chocolates looked beautiful from Rich as well but I didn't taste them.
It was pointed out to me recently that I could actually change the hours on the listing directly, instead of posting them in a review. Ah, technology.
Full disclosure: I am one of the owners.
I thought I would finally take a moment and let you all know…
Read more »
Yummy guiness ice cream. Tasty bananas fosters truffle and other truffles. Lots of chocolates and homemade ice cream to chose from. The cake selection is a little slim as a walk-in. Lauren - the chocolatier - is super nice and helpful if you have any questions.
I went to their Christmas Open House with a friend. I'm not a huge sweets fan but they were having champagne so I said I'd go. Well everything was amazing! I tried pretty much one of each and definitely walked out in a sugar coma. The uniquely flavored ice creams and the caramel corn were my favorites. If you need a special occasion cake they had a lot of nice looking pictures of previous cakes that had been done. It's definitely worth a trip back to Lincoln Square for this.
We stopped by to buy some treats for our guests who where visiting that afternoon. The truffles, bonbons, and toffees were a big hit with our family. The staff at this bakery was very helpful in selecting the goods. Next time, we'd like to try the sorbets or custom cakes!
Neighborhood: Albany Park
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
Category: Bakeries
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Category: Candy Stores
Neighborhood: DePaul
Category: Chocolatiers and Shops
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