You may not have visited the edBaker shopfront, but chances are that you’ve tasted their food under the banner of an upmarket café, specialist chocolate shop, hotel or restaurant without knowing it.
The edBaker outlet is inconspicuously tucked away in the industrial backblocks of Burleigh Heads. In fact, I would never have known about it had I not been tipped off by the National Baking Industry Association’s awards.
edBaker is one of only two bakeries on the Gold Coast to receive NBIA’s Seal of Excellence, an award to “honour the fine baking traditions and produce items that have been largely hand-crafted with…natural, quality ingredients, traditional processes and a return to the fundamentals of age-old skills in Australia.” Such awards serve to remind us that excellence can be right under our noses, perhaps going unnoticed!
Pip and Steve Baker, Arnie De Jong and Terry Grapes bring extensive industry experience to their business, from London, Sydney (Epicurean Kitchen and the Bronte Café), and previous ownership of the Outpost Café and Kweebani Grill in Canungra. The beginnings of this business are indicative of their approach and provide key factors in their success: knowing the market, a team approach, a commitment to provide excellence in product and top level service.
“We listen to what people want,” says owner Arnie, and listen they did.
The Brisbane Food Trade Show two years ago proved a great opportunity to conduct concept research of the Queensland public, indicating both a sizeable interest and a gap in the market for ‘scratch recipes’, where products were baked from fresh ingredients without the use of premixes. And so edBaker was born.
Using the finest ingredients: free range organic eggs, organic flours, pure Belgian couverture chocolate, the best Italian 20/22% cocoa powder, pure unsalted creamery butter and fresh seasonal local fruit and vegetables, all the products in the store are baked according to the team’s own recipes. And it is a team effort, with owners working on the floor beside other workers.
A stunning array of cakes and slices emerges from the kitchen: Macadamia and caramel tarts, individual cheesecakes, White chocolate and macadamia brownies, Blueberry slice, Chocolate truffles, Spiced pumpkin and cheesecake muffins, Chocolate orange cakes, Fig and pistachio cheesecakes…and more.
There’s also a fabulous range of gluten-free cakes: cheesecakes, slices, brownies, carrot cakes, Moroccan orange cake, lemon fig and ginger biscuits, all light and (dare I say it) just like the real thing!
At Christmas time a specialty is the All-Australian Christmas cake containing fig, macadamia and apricots soaked in Grand Marnier, topped with a macapan icing made from macadamia and almond. Add that one to the shopping list!
The shopfront is presided over by Pip, her smiling face and attentive service provide a welcome respite for workers on a break. The tiny café, though unpretentious, serves a selection of pies, wraps, toasties, takeaway meals such as Beef Massaman or Smoked salmon pasta to be reheated, and of course the signature cakes and slices baked on the premises. Besides the special occasion orders for birthday and wedding cakes and event catering, the most expensive item costs less than $6! Add a coffee from Boutique producer Elixir in Brisbane, ground to order as you wait, for a cost of $3 (or a black – as you like it – for $2.50).
The business also strives to provide great wholesale service to retailers who make up two thirds of their turnover. With daily delivery to the entire Gold Coast, edBaker has taste, freshness and competitive pricing on their side. Why would you buy frozen goods when you can get a deliciously fresh handmade product at the same price!
“Food is about sharing,” says Arnie. Yes, but edBaker is sharing more than great food. They’re sharing high ethical standards in food preparation and the best possible service they can provide. Exceptional, really!
Shop hours: Mon – Fri 7am – 3pm Ph: 07 5576 7113
5 Flagstone Drive, Burleigh Heads, Queensland 4220