Mmm, mmm…. goodies!

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/07/2020 (2148 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Kristina Majowski and Shannon MacTavish used to dream of opening their own bakeries — and that dream has become reality.

White Birch Bakery, located at 1108 Henderson Hwy., blends the talents and cultures of its owners. MacTavish, a Red Seal chef, is Scottish and brings her recipes for shortbread and empire cookies; Majowski, a trained pastry chef, contributes traditional Slovenian fare, including strudel and almond crescents.

Majowski explained that the white birch name ties together the Slovenian, Scottish and Canadian cultures. For Celts, the tree signifies new beginnings, wisdom and hope. It is found in the centre of many Slovenian homes and, of course, white birch is also found in Canada.

MacTavish and Majowski have worked together for a decade and their skills complement each other, Majowski said. It took the pair more than six months to find the ideal location but it was worth the wait, Majowksi said.

“It worked to our advantage, because our dream was to have the front all windows, off the street,” Majowski said. “It was the ideal location, it really was. This place was meant to be.”
Fans of sourdough bread will love White Birch’s offerings, MacTavish said, likening it to how their grandmothers made it. Their sourdough starters, named Rupert and Hamish, contain natural yeast that is fed twice a day.

“That’s what gives the spring to your bread,” MacTavish said. “Our breads are only made with flour, water and salt.”

There’s more than bread and baking at White Birch Bakery. It also offers lunchtime soup-and-sandwich specials that will soon include MacTavish’s special soup creations, such as Thai chicken and Moroccan carrot lentil. You can pick up some natural dog biscuits and catnip snacks, too.

White Birch Bakery also offers jams, teas and coffee beans produced by local companies with local ingredients whenever possible.

“We’re local and we like to support local,” Majowski said. “Our jams, as much as possible, are (made with) local berries, the coffee is by Sunstone Roastery, which is a local brewer here in Manitoba, and the tea is from a local company from Selkirk called Three 6 Tea. It’s loose leaf and its delicious.”

While they have only been open for three weeks, Majowski and MacTavish are excited by the early reviews.

“Since we’ve been open this community has been very welcoming, lovely, and encouraging,” Majowski said. “Overall, it’s been a wonderful experience and we’re so excited to be a part of this community.”

White Birch Bakery is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Phone 204-306-8672, visit whitebirchbakery.com or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.