Master pastry chef opens fam Ily bake shop
Southside cafe and patisserie earns top reviews from customers
ASAVVY pastry chef who has worked with some of the top names in the UK culinary scene has just opened a new family bake shop in Glasgow.
Choux and Brew is a small but mighty cafe and patisserie in Shawlands that opened in December last year.
Chef Wendy Lo, 29, had dreamed of opening up her own pastry shop for years before teaming up with her cousin Michael Law, 32, to bring Choux and Brew to life.
Wendy says she thinks her love of baking is hereditary, passed down from her mum.
She said: “My mum is a baker. She used to bake Chinesestyle cakes, which is different from what I do, but I reckon I got that cookery side from my mum.”
Wendy began her career training with Scottish Masterchef winner Gary Maclean.
She proceeded to work as a pastry chef with top industry names like Martin Wishart and at luxury hotels like The Balmoral in Edinburgh and The Dakota in Glasgow.
Wendy eventually moved to London where she joined the coveted pastry team at Michelin- starred Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan in Mayfair.
She went on to work alongside pastry legend Cherish Finden.
When her father became ill amid the pandemic, Wendy decided to move back home to Glasgow to be close to her family.
Michael, who had a background in finance, always wanted to open his own business and jumped at the chance to join Wendy.
He describes their collaboration as ‘ perfect synergy’. Michael said: “I had enough faith in Wendy’s products to leave my fulltime job as an accountant. “She’s really passionate about her job and she’s also humble at the same time.” As the name suggests, Choux and Brew specialise in cakes made with choux pastry, a simple and delicate pastry used to make profiteroles. Wendy said: “Our top two pastries are a Paris- Brest, which is a hazelnut praline chocolate mousse topped with caramel sauce. “That one has been our top seller, but in the past week, our Tiramichoux has actually been doing better.
“It’s a big choux bun filled with coffee- soaked sponge and vanilla mousse.
“A close third is our lemon meringue tart. It’s got frangipane, lemon curd, and a spiral- swirled torched meringue.
“Our selection is small, but everything is really, really fresh.”
Wendy and Michael, who grew up in the East End, have been putting their all into the new shop.
As many small businesses are forced to close amid the cost- of- living crisis, the cousins are determined to keep their dream alive. Wendy said: “With the energy crisis and bills going up, you know, people would think that this isn’t a good time.
“But in the bigger picture, I think there’s never really going to be a good time if you think that way.” The cafe, on Pollokshaws Road, has been racking up five- star reviews from customers since it opened with friends and family urging Wendy and Michael to spread the word on social media.
In addition to its cakes, the bake shop serves coffee and ciabatta sandwiches and takes orders for special occasions.
you’re going to get firebombed. If you return here, you will get shot’.”
McGregor was taken to Helen Street police office.
Due to his drunken state, he was not formally cautioned and charged.
McGregor’s lawyer said: “On this particular night, he had been drinking and confronted by a group of men.
“He can’t remember the comments he made to the police but he accepts responsibility. Nevertheless, he now faces court again.”
The defence solicitor revealed his client’s bail order was a result of a breach of the peace in regard to his mum.
He added: “When he pleaded not guilty to the offence, bail conditions resulted in him moving to his grandmother’s address. He now has his own tenancy in Castlemilk.”
Sheriff Amel Elfallah told McGregor: “The offences you have pleaded guilty to are serious ones. I have taken into account your outstanding matter which post dates this offence.
“In the circumstances, I’m prepared to deal with this matter by a court order.”
He was ordered to carry out 75 hours of unpaid work.