Baker D. Chirico flagship store opens in Brisbane
LOCATION
Newstead, Brisbane
VENUE
Cafe
TREND
Sustainability, Pastry
MAPPING
Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Coffee, Sustainability
The well respected Baker D. Chirico has been a hugely popular coffee haunt in Melbourne since 2001, and there's been a lot of anticipation around the opening of their new flagship cafe in Brisbane. Now open in Newstead; Baker D. Chirico has brought their own interpretation of German, French and Italian inspired pastries to our town. I stood in a long queue; at least 30 metres long with 100 diehard pastry fans waiting for the doors to be flung open at 8am. It was worth the wait; let me take you through Baker D. Chirico to see what all the fuss is about.
Cafe with a bread basket inspired ceiling
Located on Longland Street in Newstead, this up market cafe has made a dramatic entrance to the Brisbane's cafe scene. Adorned with stylish, speckled terrazzo tiles, loads of glass and natural light that creates a space that's bright and ambient. Look up and you can't miss the incredible ceiling that is said to be inspired by a bread basket. But it's the display counter that really captures the attention, it's full of beautiful pastries, tarts, and more pastries. Pastry aside though, I also enjoy observing a hospitality work flow in action. Customers become the centre of attention as soon as they walk through the door. The long display counter dominates and the customer's pastry journey begins. They wander along to the left, browse, make their pastry and coffee selection and continue along to pay at the "Square" point of sale system. A few steps to the left and the customer is at the coffee pick up. It's all well organised, quite calm and measured.
The range of pastries is nothing short of beautiful. They all look amazing and it's very hard to make a choice. Baked on premises, customers are sure to get a treat.
Coffee complexity has come done a notch with only one cup on offer. You read right! There is only an 8oz cup; however there is a small cup for espresso and piccolo.
The cafe furnishings fit nicely in this plush neighbourhood. A A range of indoor and outdoor seating is in keeping with an Italian / Mediterranean theme.
Chilled water is available on tap for customers to help themselves. Glasses are provided and I noticed staff were extremely vigilant in replenishing them.
As cafe goers queued for their daily bread; large windows gave an opportunity to see behind the scenes where bakers were busy preparing loaves and pastries. It takes a certain level of confidence to open up the back of house to the public, but Baker D. Chirico is proud of what they do. They promote their commitment to using quality ingredients and traditional baking methods by using natural fermentations and biodynamic stone-milled flours. According to the Biodynamic Association in the USA. Plants such as wheat grown in "living soil" provide a quality of health and nutrition not possible through traditional agricultural methods where chemical fertilisers are used. Biodynamic farms generate their own fertility through composting, integrating animals and crop rotation. By sourcing biodynamic ingredients Baker D. Chirico not only creates high quality loaves and pastries, but also contributes to a more sustainable environment.
Acknowledgement: Biodynamics.com
Baker D. Chirico offers a wonderful range of irresistible loaves including seeded whole wheat with linseed and sunflower, light rye with caraway seeds, along with olive and rosemary breads. On this visit I purchased a fruit and hazelnut sour dough, it was heavy, dense and full of fruit and nuts.
Stephen's Take
Unit of Competency Mapping
Content in this article relates to the following units of competency
Prepare and serve espresso coffee
Serve food and beverage
Participate in sustainable work practicesSource and use information on the hospitality industry
Please note; the purpose of this article is to introduce current hospitality trends. The content broadly applies to the units of competency listed. It is not intended that all content in this article maps directly to all performance evidence and knowledge evidence in the unit of competency.
Teacher Resources
For further information please take advantage of the following documents and website links!
Baker D. Chirico Victorian Store Facebook Page
Biodynamic Association Website
Fact Sheet: Biodynamic Principles and Practices, Source: Biodynamics.com
Article, photos and video original by Stephen Duncan