Copenhagen Bakery — A Taste of Scandinavia —

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 15

Copenhagen Bakery — A Taste of Scandinavia —

Most early mornings in Denmark, you will find a queue of locals lining up at the pastry shop for their freshly baked bread rolls and pastries. And, it is not unusual to see party-goers, at four o’clock in the morning, collecting at the same pastry shop to take away freshly made breads and pastries for an early, early breakfast. Danish pastry, known the world over for its variety of flavour, shape, and special flaky taste, has it’s origin going back many many generations. Young bakers just out of apprenticeships would travel down through Europe, invariably by foot, to collect a variety of ideas to enhance and improve their trade. Hence, the variety of pastries and breads. ‘Weinerbrod’, as pastry is called in Denmark, originates from Austria. Over the years this special pastry has been beautified and perfected to its traditional flavour and shape, to become one of the finest foods of Europe. . Traditional anniversary days, most especially Christmas, are busy periods for the Danish bakeries. Each anniversary means special traditional cakes and pastries in the shop windows, decorated according to the celebration. It is this sense of celebration that one feels when pausing outside the shop windows of the little x Danish bakery situated on Arpiagh Street, in central Christchurch — ‘Copenhagen Bakery’. The tradition of quality, variety, and flavour has been retained to make the ‘Copenhagen Bakery’ a mouth-watering experience< for its many local customers. It is in the tradition of quality and presentation that Donna and John Thomsen, .‘Copenhagen Bakery’ proprietors, have aimed to achieve and up-hold.

John came to New Zealand in 1981, intending to work as a Danish food baker for one year. But, he stayed for a further two years, during which time he met Donna, a registered nurse. They left New Zealand for Denmark, married, and travelled for three years before returning to Christchurch to open their own Danish bakery. When Donna and John bought the long-established ‘Caroline Cake Kitchen’ in November 1987, they renamed it ‘Copenhagen Bakery’, and set about to totally refurbish and up-grade the premises. This meant that major renovations and plant replacements were required, in order to assure a very high standard of product. Even the finer details of importing decorations for various cakes were not overlooked. John has been a baker for twelve years and brings his experience and expectations of quality bakery into every aspect of the business. He knows that time and skill are of the essence. Any slight defection sends the offending roll or pastry straight to the rubbish bin. From its very first day of opening, the ‘Copenhagen Bakery’ has been a success. Although Donna and John were unsure of the reception their style of products may be given by the local people, one need only see the lunch-time queue to know that they have definitely captured a recipe for success. Not only does the ‘Copenhagen Bakery’ offer a variety of tasty filled croissants, pastries, breads and rolls, cakes and cookies, but you may also treat yourself to a Kiwi-style hot pie or sausage roll. The Danish delicacies of the ‘Copenhagen Bakery’, 136 Armagh Street are quite simply beyond temptation!