FANCY a slice of the classic Victoria Sponge? How about a taste of lemon cake or Manchester Tart?
Maybe you’d like to try some Romanian plum and walnut cake?
Whatever you try at Our Coffee Shop, you’re sure to have your tastebuds tickled and your sweet tooth satisfied as the family-run business has just scooped our latest Best of 2023 award – Wirral’s Best for Dessert.
Each week, we will be searching for the best Wirral has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 12 awards for 2023.
The winners so far:
Best for Hair – The Hair, Beauty and Nail Lounge
Best for Pies – Pies4U
Best for Nails – Ebony J Nails & Beauty
Best for Roast Dinner – Fox and Hounds
Best for Cocktails – Shaker Shaker
Best for Breakfast – Twenty Sixteen
Best for Fitness – Matt Colligan
Best for Fish and Chips - SelFish
Best for Tattoos – Nomad Ink
Best for Pizza – Pizza Mamma
Best for Pets – Sanderson Vets
Best Independent Shop or Business – Bromborough Flowers
Voting for Wirral’s Best for Beauty is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best for Kids.
Next on the menu was the search for Wirral’s Best for Dessert and Our Coffee Shop took the latest Best of 2023 crown.
Born in Romania, Flavia Popa has lived in England for 13 years with the past seven years spent in Wirral.
She lives with her two daughters Natasha, who is ten, and eight-year-old Inga.
Flavia, who is 39 and has a degree in business management, said: “We live in the heart of such a welcoming community and customers call us a hidden gem.
“My decision to open the coffee shop was born out of a desire to create a better life for my two precious daughters.
“I’ve always had a passion for baking and cooking so when life threw me lemons, I made lemon meringue cake!
“Becoming a single mother, I longed for the flexibility to be there for my girls while also providing for their future, so I had to whip up a plan to turn my passion into a business.”
Flavia opened Our Coffee Shop on Spital Road in Autumn 2018 with the community embracing the family business and “weaving a tight-knit bond”.
The culinary creations are a blend of Flavia’s heritage and her love of experimenting with new flavours, while ensuring that customers are treated to a culinary experience like no other.
Flavia said: “Romanian cuisine, renowned for its rich flavours and heartwarming dishes, finds its way onto the menu sometimes, showcasing my heritage through the twists I add to traditional dishes, the specials we create weekly and the fact every dish needs to be presented beautifully.
“Everything is made with the highest quality ingredients and we source locally as much as we can – local butchers for our meat and farms for our vegetables, eggs and milk.
“We have a small kitchen and our customers are often surprised by the varied menu as besides our homemade cakes, we also offer cooked breakfasts served all day, brunch and lunch as well as afternoon tea.
“I offer coeliac-friendly and vegan-friendly options so every slice of cake and delectable dish can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of dietary restrictions.”
She added: “We put a huge amount of effort in and give the best to our community.
“We make everything from scratch and it’s all cooked and baked on the premises.”
The much-loved classics like Victoria Sponge, lemon cake and Manchester Tart hold a special place in the hearts of customers as well as the speciality scones, the surprise additions to the menu usually impress regulars.
One nomination for Our Coffee Shop to win the Best for Desserts 2023 title said: “Desserts to die for!
“Always freshly made and taste delicious.
“It’s so hard to choose a favourite, so you have to have them all!”
The best seller with a twist is their Bakewell Cake and customers also like the special millionaire’s shortbread, cheesecakes and monster cakes.
Romanian plum and walnut cake and Italian wedding cake are also big hitters.
Flavia said: “I bake the cakes freshly every day and night.
“The effort is real and sleepless nights are many but the results are worth it.
“I wanted to create a home away from home, a cherished meeting place for locals, forming bonds over steaming cups of coffee and scrumptious treats.
“We pride ourselves on our warm and welcoming atmosphere - stepping inside feels like entering a friend’s living room, where laughter and good conversation flow freely.”
So, what did Flavia and the team think when they heard they’d been nominated for our latest award? And how did they feel when they won?
Flavia said: “The competition has brought immense joy for the whole team.
“We were overjoyed when we discovered we were shortlisted and winning was a feeling beyond words.
“To be recognised in this way is a testament to the love and care we pour into every cake, every sip of coffee and every moment spent with our customers.
“As we embark on another milestone in our business journey, I find myself overwhelmed with a profound sense of gratitude to everyone who has supported us over the past five years.
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to each member of this incredible family – my pillars of strength and unwavering support – my daughters Natasha and Inga and my life partner Andy as well as our entire family, who have been the backbone of my entrepreneurial journey.
“I am blessed with the best team and together we have achieved something truly remarkable.
“We couldn't have achieved this without your tireless efforts and the incredible talent each one of you brings to the table.”
She added: “Our customers are the heart and soul of Our Coffee Shop and I am incredibly grateful for their support and their votes.
“It is their love for our cakes and their belief in what we do that has brought us here today. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
For more details go to facebook.com/ourcoffeeshopSpital
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