DREAM TEAM JOINS FORCES
ONE of Townsville’s quirkiest chefs has found a new home at Botanical Style serving homemade treats and satisfying people’s caffeine needs.
Secret Feast director Ashlee Ede was used to serving five to eight-course meals at specially curated events in unexpected, or abandoned locations around Townsville
Ms Ede said with COVID-19 wiping out events this year it was a case of chance timing that has landed the experienced chef behind the coffee machine at Botanical Style.
“I’ve taken time away from Secret Feast and am doing my accreditation to become a commercial cookery teacher so I said ‘pick me, pick me’,” she said.
Botanical Style owner Kym Wilson said she was overjoyed to have her “over qualified” friend now working alongside her at the Charters Towers Rd store. “I said to her ‘don’t be ridiculous you’re over qualified’ but she was serious and it’s been great.”
Ms Wilson said she had filled the store with all of her favourite things from plant pots, artwork, homewares and jewellery.
She said every plant was locally sourced and she took pride in being a place to showcase local artists and suppliers.
Ms Wilson said she created the boutique shop because there wasn’t anything like it in Townsville.
With plants hanging from the roof and in every direction and the sound of running water features, Ms Wilson wants it to be a space to give customers a dose of nature’s medicine to relax and unwind.
“It’s quite grounding and I just want people to feel at ease when they’re here,” she said. “Stay for a while, sit and have a coffee with friends and then walk around the shop.”