New bakehouse is simply Delicioso
A 24-year-old baker has risen to a fresh challenge: Kiara Ortega is adding savoury treats to her repertoire at a new West Wollongong bakehouse
Four years ago, Kiara Ortega started a dessert bar in a food truck in Unanderra that was so successful she moved to a bricks-and-mortar business in Port Kembla. Now the 24-year-old baker has risen to a fresh challenge: adding savoury treats to her repertoire at Delicioso Bake House in West Wollongong.
Kiara's opened her new venture on Saturday, November 1, serving freshly baked sweets, bread and coffee at 29a Thames Street. She still owns the dessert bar, but it's back in its original food truck in Unanderra, allowing Kiara to focus on the bakehouse.
“I did my studies for baking, and I got more into the savoury side, so I grew into the bread and the sourdough and then became popular with the savoury side for customers,” Kiara says.
“When there was a market for it, I just kept going with it,
“Having a dessert bar didn’t really favour having the savoury stuff anymore.”
Three kinds of sourdough are sold at the new bakehouse
Delicioso Bake House is on a quiet street with outdoor tables on a sunny footpath. Inside the cosy shop, display cabinets are lined with biscuits, tarts and fudges, as well as savoury scrolls. A shelf at the back, set above a row of plush toys, holds three kinds of sourdough loaves.
Kiara developed a strong work ethic when she was young and worked three jobs when she was first getting her dessert bar off the ground.
“Before this I had a hobby business called Choco Berry where I made chocolate strawberry boxes since I was 16,” she says.
“So, I’ve always been a little hustler since I was young, trying to do desserts or sweets wherever I can.”
The bakehouse is trialling a monthly menu to keep its flavours fresh. One of the standout items in November is the Birria Toastie – slow-cooked spiced beef with three cheeses served on toasted sourdough, accompanied by a pot of birria dipping sauce.
Kiara's November special is the Birria Toastie
As if running a business wasn’t enough of a challenge, Kiara is also an ambitious boxer.
“Outside of baking I do enjoy boxing, so I want to get back into my regular training routine," she says.
"I still have big goals that I want to achieve while still running my business.
“I competed in state titles, King of the Ring and hopefully next year I can get back into full time training and compete, and do better than last year.”
The problem with juggling business and sport isn’t time or burnout – it’s the diet, especially when surrounded by baked goods.
“It’s hard because in boxing there’s weight categories and having my own dessert business and bakery, it’s hard to balance between the two,” Kiara says with a laugh.
“So, you know, when it comes to cutting weight you can get a little bit grumpy,
“That’s the biggest thing for me, I enjoy training, I enjoy the hard work, it’s like ‘Okay, I can’t have sugar or chocolate,’ but after cutting it out, you just want it more.”
Delicioso Bake House is open from Tuesday to Friday (7am-3pm) and on Saturday (7am-12pm) at 29a Thames Street, West Wollongong.
