It has been a busy year for Elieneke’s Bake Shop owner Elien De Herdt.
De Herdt says there have been a few changes, primarily with regards to her shop’s display and noted that each new hurdle has been completed with a sense of accomplishment. De Herdt was nominated for and received the New Kid On The Block award Oct. 21.
“It is the little things that count. When I first opened, my products were displayed on a table but now, with a proper show case, it gives me more opportunities to expand my selection,” De Herdt said, adding in addition to breads, pastries and specialty candies, the shop is expanding towards wholesale markets and offering more chocolate products.
“I want to get my chocolates into hotels and the bigger cities. That’s my plan, to start in Barrhead and Westlock and slowly branch outward. I’m the only one in the area that I know of who is a chocolateer and I’ve always leaned towards specializing in chocolates.”
A former Team Canada member and the youngest person awarded the Young Bakery Hopeful award at the 2015 Loius Lesaffre Cup, De Herdt said she hopes to bring more Belgian heritage to the community.
“We’re starting to make our own candies and I’m also looking at bringing in more expensive chocolates, a caramel-chocolate or something like ruby chocolate,” she said, adding ruby chocolate is naturally pink and is the first new type of chocolate discovered in over 30 years.
“It tastes a bit fruity. I’m heading to a bakery trade show in Paris [France] in January and hopefully I’ll be able to find some there,” she said.
De Herdt said Christmas and Easter are her two favourite times of the year.
“I have so many molds that I don’t generally get to work with except at these times of the year and it feels good to be getting back into chocolate,” De Herdt said, noting she took a six-month hiatus from chocolate-making to focus on other aspects of the business.
“I still offer breads and pastries and I have a lot of ideas. I hope to have gift baskets, cookie trays and an assortment of stocking stuffers available for Christmas time. I’ve also got hot-chocolate mixes in jars for you or your special someone. But we’ll see how the time component cooperates.”
Elieneke’s Bake Shop is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
For more information call 780-674-2844.
