Meet Our Caterers: Little Bakes

We spoke to our new caterers, Little Bakes, to get to know the ladies behind the business and hear about the delicious future of food at Nostell.

Tell us a bit more about yourselves…

We’re mother and daughter, Karen and Lydia, and we are the proud owners of Little Bakes. We’ve both always had a love for baking, but we never could have imagined it would have grown into this. It all started during lockdown. We were baking just for fun, trying to pass the time, like everyone else. We shared some photos of our creations with friends, and they started requesting cakes. They even convinced us to set up a Facebook page, and before we knew it, we were getting all sorts of catering requests. Fast forward two years, and we opened our own cafe in Featherstone. It’s been an incredible journey!

Why did you choose Nostell?

The second we arrived at Nostell, and met with Gayle and Peter for the first time, we were immediately drawn to the location. It just felt like the right fit for us! We could see the vision straight away, and it came up at the perfect time too. We couldn’t have asked for a better environment for Little Bakes to grow, and the support and enthusiasm from everyone here has been incredible.

How do you source your ingredients?

We’re all about keeping things fresh and local. All our ingredients come from nearby suppliers that we know and trust. Supporting our local community is super important to us, and we’re really proud to serve this food!

do you offer any vegetarian and gluten-free options?

Definitely! As a vegetarian myself (Lydia), I make sure we have plenty of veggie options available. And for those who need gluten-free, we’ve got that covered too. We offer gluten-free both by request and as part of our regular menu. You’ll often find some gluten-free goodies on sale on the counter, ready for you to pick up. Plus, we’re always looking to add more of these options to our menu so everyone can enjoy our bakes!

Do you have any plans for seasonal menus?

Oh, for sure! We love changing things up for autumn and winter. You can expect different holiday-themed treats, like spooky snacks for Halloween, and sweet delights for Valentine’s Day. Plus, as the winter months roll in, we’ll be adding more soups and hot meals to keep everyone warm and cosy.

can tenants expect to see the return of the specials menu?

We’ve heard all about the well-loved specials, and were excited to be able to bring our take on them for tenants to enjoy! We’ll be serving a special dish every Monday-Thursday.

Tenants can stay updated on the specials over on the Little Bakes page.

How can tenants get in touch to place orders?

You can pop in to see us – we’ve got grab-and-go items in our fridge, freshly baked food on the counter ready to eat, or we can whip up something off the menu in no time. You can also give us a call. 

Do you offer catering for events?

Absolutely! We cater for all kinds of events – weddings, christenings, funerals, hen parties, birthdays, baby showers, you name it. To arrange catering for an event, just drop us an email or come and ask us!

can you describe a typical day for little bakes in the kitchen?

Every day starts with prepping all our food, so everything is completely fresh for our customers. We stock the fridge and bake all our treats as soon as we get in. Some days, we also have to plan for catering events or busier weeks, which keeps things interesting… and sometimes a little hectic, but that’’’s the fun of it! We love that no two days are the same in our kitchen! 

what do you enjoy the most about being a caterer?

There’s so much to love! It’s incredibly satisfying when the food looks great, tastes amazing, and people really enjoy it. (Lydia:) I’ve always loved being creative and pushing myself further with the food side of things. But baking and cake decorating is where I really get to show my artistic side! It’s such a rewarding experience to see everything come together and know that you’ve made someone’s event special. 

What are some of the most popular dishes on your menu?

Our brunch menu is a big hit! Avocado dishes are always super popular, especially at our café. But we’ve noticed that the hot baguettes are a favourite here too, and our garlic mushrooms always go down a treat. People just can’t get enough of them – us included!