If visions of fresh pastries and bread have you longing for a bakery fix, stop by Wellington, New Zealand’s award-winning Floriditas Café & Restaurant. Floriditas is a popular cafe in Wellington located on Cuba Street, and Floriditas Bakery is around the corner in a former potter’s studio off Swan Lane.
Behind-the-scenes tour of Wellington, NZ's Floriditas Bakery, courtesy of Zest Food Tours.
Courtesy of Zest Food Tours of New Zealand, I stepped into Floriditas Bakery for a behind-the-scenes experience with Julie Clark, one of three partners at Floriditas. From New Zealand, like many other natives, Julie left her hometown and garnered her experience “cooking from London to Africa.”
Floriditas' Chef/owner Julie Clark
Owner Julie and her partners entered the Wellington dining scene in the late 1980’s when the concept of eating out hadn’t really taken off. Their concept was casual and debuted brunch at their original 28-seat restaurant which took off quickly.
Since then, they’ve expanded and are open 6:30 am to 10:30 pm every day. Diners choose from three menus titled morning, noon and night, with food served continuously throughout the day. The menus are seasonal, simple and stylish – fitting to the surrounding Victorian-esque décor with pressed tin ceiling, bold wallpaper, and low lighting.
Entering Floriditas’ commercial kitchen is an amazing overload of fresh-baked goodness, taking me back to my childhood and Saturday morning visits to the old-fashioned Iowa bakery in my hometown.
Floriditas supplies bakery goods to their own café and restaurant, as well as Moore Wilson Fresh – - New Zealand’s version of Whole Foods specializing in gourmet foods.
Entering the Floriditas' commercial kitchen is an amazing overload of fresh-baked goodness.
Production at Floriditas Bakery begins at 4:30 am. Owner/chef Julie recalls a Kiwi saying “you’re a good housewife if your tins are full.”
Floriditas Bakery takes pride in recreating popular local recipes handed down from generations – such as New Zealand Pavlova, a meringue based dessert that melts in your mouth.
Picture perfect and deliciously tempting pastries, cakes, and breads surround us in Floriditas. Afghan biscuits (made with cornflakes with no rising agents). Tarts, tarts, tarts – choose from Neenish tarts, walnut tarts. Bread: walnut raisin fruit bread, ciabetta and buttermilk baps.
Sweet tastes of Floriditas Bakery in Wellington, New Zealand.
We were then treated to a caramel brownie demo (picture at top) while the fresh baked smells of a bakery filled the kitchen. Of course, we ended the behind-the-scenes experience with samplings of multiple tasty Floriditas desserts.
Floriditas adds another must-stop on your New Zealand vacation.
Floriditas
Floriditas Café & Restaurant – 161 Cuba Street
Floriditas Bakery — corner Swan Lane
Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand
Phone: 04 381 2212
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