A new addition to Newmarket, Elske already has the Europhiles queuing for its authentic European treats.
Danish for “to love”, Elske is a European-style bakery and patisserie and the latest addition to the area’s growing foodie precinct.
Elske’s artisan Danish and European offerings are the work of Michelin-star Danish pastry chef Khristina Jensen.
With 20 years experience as a pastry chef, Jensen worked at the Michelin-starred Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam and Godt Restaurant in Copenhagen, before serving as head pastry chef at London’s Conrad Hotel, Sydney’s Quay Restaurant and most recently Wellington’s Matterhorn.
Having worked so extensively throughout Europe, Jensen describes her style as Danish-inspired European.
Specialty breads include a Danish rye and Elske signature sourdough. While pastries include a French biegnet with rhubarb and raspberry jam and millefeuille cake made with a thousand layers of puff pastry.
Making everything onsite, Jensen does things the old fashioned – and often time- consuming – way.
Jensen makes her own croissants – “not a lot of bakeries make their own here” – and ‘starts’ her breads naturally with her own rye and grape starters, which she says gives them more flavour.
There’s no cutting corners with her pastry either, which are all handmade using real butter and meticulously folded layer upon layer. Piping is also done by hand.
Visitors to the Kingdon Street site can choose to takeaway or eat-in at the front of house café, which also serves European breakfasts and lunch offerings in the form of French baguettes and sandwiches, and of course, good coffee.
Anyone pondering which delicious treats to sample can also watch Jensen and her team hard at work in their kitchen next door, through a floor to ceiling glass wall. A nice touch, though most would be hard pressed to catch them for their 2am starts.
Watch out for Jensen’s seriously good Christmas offerings too in the form of Christmas cake, gingerbread men and of course, Stollen.
Elske, Kingdon St, Newmarket, Auckland, Tel: 09 524 6253
Open weekdays from 7.30am – 3pm and Saturdays from 8am – 3pm.
