Arts
Your favourite éclairs just got more exciting
Traditionally filled with chocolate or vanilla cream on the inside and topped with rich chocolate icing or chocolate ganache, éclairs also come in flavours such as coffee, strawberry and caramel. Some home bakers and caterers in and around Colombo have taken another step forward and now make customised éclairs in a variety of fillings and flavours and themed éclairs for functions and special occasions. Take a look at these innovative creations.
The Éclair Couture
Shameena Najeeb, a home baker with a passion for éclairs, owns The Éclair Couture. Along with éclairs she also sells profiteroles.
“Many of my loyal customers prefer custom-made boxes along with their éclairs and profiteroles. So I handle orders with custom gift boxes and special notes included, according to the customer’s request,” she told the Sunday Times Magazine.
“A lot of passion and love goes into these éclairs, and there is a broad range – from Oreo flavoured to fruit indulged éclairs. My customers really love the combination of different and unusual éclair flavours in a ittle gift box, and their feedback keeps me going,” she added.
Shameena delivers her items only to Colombo right now, but hopes to widen her delivery base. Corporate orders and large orders can be placed through a hotline number (075 6666 876) and smaller orders can be placed through Instagram (the_eclair_couture).
The Éclair Factory
The Éclair Factory is run by Mafaza Haleem, a mum of three and blogger.
“I’ve been interested in journalism since I was 18 years old. I took cooking lessons because my mum wanted me to, and that changed my career. I became a food blogger in Dubai, and lived and worked there for seven years. I moved back to Sri Lanka in 2017,” Mafaza told the Sunday Times Magazine.
Tarts are also available at The Éclair Factory but éclairs are Mafaza’s speciality, and she has 18 different flavours on offer.
“Although we are a home-based business we cater to our customers Monday through Saturday. We have not imposed a minimum order like other bakeries and caterers,” Mafaza said.
Right now The Éclair Factory is only available online and orders can be placed through their Instagram page (theeclairfactory_). They deliver their products to different locations, through local delivery services.
Billie’s Goodies
Billie’s Goodies is run by Thilini Herath who works at an investment company and as a consultant at a travel agency. Aside from éclairs, brownies, choc chip cookies, cream puffs, butter cake, banoffee pie, chocolate biscuit pudding and key lime pie are available at Billies.
“The fact that my whole family is heavily involved in the business, is what makes my business special. For instance, my mom and sister bake some of the items on our menu and our packaging boxes are done at home by my mom,” Thilini told the Sunday Times Magazine.
“At the moment I deliver the items myself – and my dad and sister help me. But we are hoping to partner with a delivery service soon,” she said.
Billie’s can be reached through their Instagram page (billies.goodies) and WhatsApp (077 229 3165). Currently, they are a home-based, online business and deliver their items to selected areas in Colombo and the suburbs.
Dessert Sea
Zaakiya Zaharan Ali, a 19-year-old undergraduate is the entrepreneur behind Dessert Sea, which she began in June 2019. Dessert Sea’s menu contains éclairs in various flavours and customised designs, and other desserts such as no-bake cheesecake, doughnuts, pannacotta, tarts, brownies, pavlova and mini cakes, also available in a range of flavours and colours.
“We constantly look for new ways to add value. Be it the taste or appearance of the éclair, we aim to justify the phrase; “looks as good as it tastes” and vice versa. For this we need the best of ingredients and a lot of time to invest in each batch to achieve perfection. This is why we accept only a limited amount of pre-orders,” Zaakiya told the Sunday Times Magazine.
Dessert Sea is based online right now, and they deliver their products and have a pick up option as well. Zaakiya can be contacted on 076 301 2964 and through her Instagram page (dessertseasl).
“Clear instructions about how to order our products are available on our Instagram highlights and business WhatsApp catalogue. Customers can first take a look at our menu, then choose the desired filling, size and ganache for the éclair. If a customer requires personalised éclairs, they will be notified about the extra charges for value addition,” Zaakiya said.
Magical Desserts
Zeenath Gunawijaya is the founder of Magical Desserts, an online dessert store which offers a variety of desserts including Tres leches cakes, brownies, cookies, doughnuts and profiteroles.
“Growing up within a circle of women who have always been passionate about baking and cooking, I am now working my own magic,” Zeenath told the Sunday Times Magazine.
“Our desserts can always be customised according to our clients’ preferences and consist of premium ingredients. We always make sure our clients celebrate their special days in the best possible way,” she added.
Customers can place their orders via Facebook (Magical Desserts) and Instagram (magicaldesserts.sl). They deliver their items to Colombo and the suburbs and offer pickups as well.