Pictures by Yanni
By MELISSA WALSH
Imagine delicious cakes and pastries, and the aroma of freshly baked pies like grandma used to make wafting from the kitchen, and you will have an idea of what’s in store at Bethy’s Café at the Bazaar. Bethy’s Café opened in September 2013 when owner and pastry chef, Elizabeth Steer, fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning her own café.
“When I took it over it was an existing café but I have made lots of changes and renovations along the way,” says Elizabeth who knew at the age of 13 she wanted to have her own café. “I started my apprenticeship as a pastry cook and baker at 15 after spending lots of time baking with my mum and nan while I was growing up.”
When Elizabeth and her partner moved down to the peninsula for a lifestyle change, she had been researching cafes for a decade and came across the perfect café in Rosebud.
“When I walked in here, I had been researching cafes for years but hadn’t bought anything because I didn’t feel like I was ready yet. I kept driving past the bazaar and then I saw the café and it was wonderful. We redid all the benches and the fitout and rearranged it all, putting in couches and a long breakfast bar for people to read their papers on. We turned the place into exactly what we wanted it to feel like and, in conjunction with the adjoining art gallery, we display local artists paintings,” says Elizabeth.
At Bethy’s Café everything is made on the premises.
“A lot of the recipes are from my grandmas who taught me how I can use my creativity through my cooking. My favourite thing to do is wedding cakes and fantasy cakes, putting those together, but get a lot of enjoyment out of doing our high teas as well,” says Elizabeth, who understands that food is very much an emotional part of people’s lives and loves being a part of that celebration.
“It’s great when we have groups of four or more coming together to enjoy the atmosphere and I love knowing that I’ve helped create a special time for those people, particularly with our high teas,” she says.
When you sit down to one of Bethy’s Cafes famous high teas, you will be blown away by the sautéed mushrooms and caramelised onion feta tartlet with sour cream pastry, min petit fours, lavender scones, little rare roast beef rolls, and of course cucumber sandwiches.
Bethy’s Café at the Bazaar is at 1017 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud. Call 5986 7997.
