I was a chef in the past. I had run a cake business in Sydney supplying restaurants and cafes. I didn’t actually start cooking till I was 30 and that was when I was working in a little Italian cafe in Glebe called The Black Wattle Canteen. It was like a big old boat shed that had art studios and there was a cafe at the end. I was waitressing at the time and the lady who was making the cakes fell pregnant, got morning sickness and she didn’t want to do it anymore so I took over. When that cafe was sold I just kept on making cakes for them.
I moved to The Northern Rivers from Sydney in 2000. We lived in Eltham for 7 years and since then I’ve lived in Lismore. My first business up here was a little biscuit called Macadamia Munchies. I packaged and sold them to upmarket deli’s. They received a Silver Award at the Sydney Royal. From doing that I met Julie and James who then had The Eltham Pantry. I used to make cakes for them and then I worked there a couple of days baking cakes.
I opened here in the Star Court Arcade 5 months ago and it’s building up slowly, getting a lot of repeat business which is nice. I usually bake early morning when it’s quiet and peaceful. In my little shop here I do plunger coffee and a good range of tea in pots. I do savoury meals as well for lunch or take away dinner. Today is a coconut lamb curry and that changes daily as well.
Today we have a Baked Pecan Cheesecake with a pecan praline, New York Cheesecake, Chocolate Truffle Cake, Raspberry and White Chocolate muffins, Blueberry and Passionfruit Friands, Triple Chocolate Brownies, Sticky Date Pudding, Orange Poppyseed, Portuguese Tarts, Orange and Almond Cake. My cakes change all the time because it’s whatever I feel like cooking on the day. I’m loving being here, lovely customers and the arcade is vibrant and happening.”
Allison the Cake Maker – Shop 8, Star Court Arcade, Molesworth St, Lismore.