Ahead of opening the doors of Cafe Lavender, Anika and Andreas (Andy) Schulz preferred to offer a thing distinctive and reliable.
This, blended with the strategy of bringing different cultures with each other, resulted in the two deciding to provide genuine German delicacies at the cafe, based in Nairn.
© Phil Hannah
Andy, a perfectly-identified photographer, and Anika, who analyzed economics and tourism and worked for far more than 20 several years in the hospitality and accommodation sector, relocated to Scotland in 2016. Even so, they waited a number of years right before having the plunge and launching their personal business enterprise.
Irrespective of opening Cafe Lavender in the midst of the pandemic in July 2020, each Anika, 40, and Andy have relished their time as cafe house owners.
Kaffee and Kuchen
The cafe delivers a German custom of Kaffee and Kuchen (espresso and cake). Thus, prospects have a vast line-up of treats to select from.
These include schwarzwälder kirschtorte (black forest gateau), mandeltorte (almond cake), bratwurst and erbsensuppe (sausage and backyard pea soup) – their greatest-selling menu products.
Anika, a former deputy common manager of a person of the largest resort chains, Novotel Munich Messe, said: “We are attempting to source our ingredients regionally and guarantee they are natural.
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“Our cakes vary every single working day, but we constantly have amongst six and 10 distinctive selections, including gluten absolutely free and vegan solutions.
“In addition, we have a little savoury menu with lite bites and day by day specials like soup, quiche, sausage salad and frankfurters.
“It’s appealing to see the optimistic impact a back garden pea soup with frankfurters and a contemporary slice of organic and natural bread can carry to attendees.”
Our cakes range each working day, but we constantly have amongst 6 and 10 distinctive solutions, such as gluten-absolutely free and vegan possibilities.”
Anika Schulz
Andy, 52, extra: “People genuinely like the feel of the cafe – they say it is as if they are on a very little getaway. Our visitors enjoy the calm environment, exhibited artworks and natural elements.
“Anika and I are also pretty very pleased of our espresso, as we are the Scottish distributor of Hausbrandt coffee from Trieste, Italy. We are also featuring the widest assortment of loose tea, with all-around 15 unique types on the menu.”
Opening their own B&B
Just before Cafe Lavender came into the engage in, Anika and Andy opened their very own bed and breakfast – B&B Cawdor Home, which was crafted in 1849 as the Manse for the Free of charge Church.
With it becoming a Victorian home, the few required to share its period attraction with those other than B&B guests by yourself.
© Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
“After we visited Scotland in January 2016, we equally liked it,” Andy stated. “We specifically cherished the snow in blend with the sea.
“As we frequented Cawdor Household in Nairn, we had the feeling ‘this is the dwelling we want’, or ‘the property has picked out us’. The pair of us officially moved in Might 2016 from Munich Bavaria, south Germany.
“It was a life alter. Anika always preferred to are living overseas for a while and soon after I had some health and fitness concerns, we decided to get started new and launch our have small business.
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“Scotland came on the map as we both equally discuss the language and there is plenty of tourism in the location.”
Anika additional: “We arrived up with the strategy of our owning individual cafe in addition to our B&B as we desired to share it with others, in particular our out of doors backyard area.
“We opened the cafe on July 10 2020 for the 1st time – we adore sitting in a cafe, calming, enjoying a very good cup of tea or espresso, observing persons go by, studying a e book or just savoring fantastic enterprise with buddies and spouse and children.
We hope our guests depart with a smile and had a joyful time with us.”
Anika Schulz
“The pair of us think variety and bringing distinctive cultures together is good. And there’s no improved way to do that than with great cakes and a kitchen area that introduces German ‘daily life’ lifestyle.
“Our artwork in the cafe, which is by Andy himself, is colourful and quirky. The inspiration will come from what we have observed in nearby antique outlets, sawmills, authentic craftsmanship, and pieces we currently introduced with us from Germany.
“We are having fun with the nature below, as well as the friendliness of the folks and possessing our possess company. Really don’t aspiration your lifetime, live your aspiration.”
Bread and cake revenue
Their menu merchandise have been admired by locals and travelers alike about the program of the previous calendar year.
With regards to the distinctions in between German and Scottish bakes, Andy claims they are huge.
“German cakes are a whole lot fewer sweet than Scottish cakes – and devoid of icing on top,” he included. “You can definitely style the unique flavours in between the cakes and doughs.
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“We are truly starting up to provide our bread, rolls and pretzels in farm retailers like Connage Highland Dairy/Cheese Pantry (Ardesier) and Reduced Mill of Tynet Farm (Buckie). Not only that, but we are also providing our cakes to people today for wedding day functions and unique events.”
Anika stated: “We have a fantastic crew of employees members who are aiding us with this and running the cafe.
“Our chef, Michael, is German and allows prepare dinner and bake with me, when Tarran and Connor are liable for the fantastic purchaser company, together with Andy, and get ready our tasty espresso as baristas. In addition, we have seasonal enable as effectively.
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“Café Lavender is a little bit quirky but full of heart. We are happy to only offer you the best components to our guests and consider treatment of a healthier and extra sustainable potential.
“We hope our visitors go away with a smile and experienced a happy time with us.”
Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte
Serves 12
(Black Forest Gateau)
Elements
For the base:
- 6 eggs
- 250g sugar
- 6 tbsp incredibly hot h2o
- 200g flour
- 75g cornflour
- 50g cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
For the filling and ending:
- 1 jar of bitter cherries (350g)
- 25g cornflour
- 800g whipping product
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Kirschwasser (brandy)
- Chocolate flakes
Process
- Pre-heat oven to 180C Admirer/200C/400F/Gasoline Mark 6.
- Whisk the egg white to stiff peaks. Whisk the egg yolks alongside one another with the very hot water and sugar. Sieve the flour, baking powder, cornflour and cocoa powder into the egg mixture and fold it in gently alongside one another. Carefully fold in the egg white just after that.
- Bake the dough in a springform tin for 30-35 minutes, but minimize the heat to 130C Enthusiast/150C/325F/Gasoline Mark 3 throughout the baking time.
- Take away from the oven and enable the base amazing down fully. Slash it into 3 layers. Sprinkle the cheapest layer with Kirschwasser.
- Cook the juice of the sour cherries till just under the simmering issue and include the cornflour to make sure it’s creamy. Clear away it from the heat and let it to amazing down. Spread the cherry juice on the least expensive layer and, once more, let it cool down absolutely.
- Whisk the whipping cream jointly with the sugar till stiff. Distribute the product on the cheapest layer and position the 2nd layer on top rated. Distribute cream yet again and insert the cherries (apart from for 12, which you place on the side for the decoration).
- Increase the third layer and address everything in product. Set the 12 cherries on top and sprinkle with chocolate flakes.