A trip to Greece means a fascinating exploration of flavours and tastes. At Oakleigh’s Greek Bakery you can do exactly that, just by taking a bite. A delicious selection of traditional breads and baked goods − such as Thessaloniki bagel, fresh melomakarona, kourambiedes, biscuits, cookies and pastries − await, from the early morning hours until late in the afternoon.
The space, established a little over a year ago, is all about serving the freshest hand-made bakery goods made from traditional Hellenic recipes − a result of Despina Genimaki’s idea. The owner, having moved to Australia with her family, was missing the taste and smell of original Greek pastries in the morning and decided to start a proper ‘fourno’ in the heart of Melbourne, keeping the tradition of baking and recipes that have been passed down through generations.
“We pride ourselves on the quality products and fresh ingredients we use to prepare our items daily from scratch. We are able to produce large quantities of goods without compromising on taste,” she tells Neos Kosmos.
Truth be told, their hand-made pastries are a real treat for the tastebuds, whether it is feta, spinach, ham and yellow cheese or sausage puff pastry.
Despina’s bakery is also known for its confections and cakes, usually made with an abundance of honey, fruits and cream. We definitely recommend their bougatsa: all hand-made filo with home-made custard and served with icing sugar and cinnamon.
“I believe it was the love for what we do that made everyone involved give their best,” adds Despina. “Love and meraki make everything taste better and people appreciate that.”
The team is already preparing a full-on Christmas menu with staple Greek sweets and many more traditional recipes which are hard to find anywhere else, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, if you are after something specific, ordering ahead guarantees that you will have your favourite Greek Bakery treat for your special occasion or function.
Greek Bakery is located at 53A Portman St, Oakleigh and serves the areas of Oakleigh, Dandenong, Doncaster, Bentleigh, Richmond and Camberwell.