Do ideas just pop out of the ether into existence? Maybe they are a consequence of neurons and synanpses triggering in the brain? Or do they emerge from brainstorming and interacting with other people?
I venture into each day with an open mind looking for opportunity and seeking the serendipitous. I hope to be lucky by trying to be in the right place at the right time. Following Reva Nelson’s visits to cafes in Cobourg in our spring issue, I was musing on the subject of coffee and cake, and wondering if the idea could have other applications. Later that day, distributing magazines in Warkworth, I was to meet a cake maker and a couple who have recently established a coffee roasting business. This sparked an idea: a clear case of serendipity in action. Could these stories be melded together? Immediately, I began to ponder the challenge of photographing three people, one or possibly two dogs, and a cake.
This story has a several themes…the magic that is Warkworth, where base metal routinely turns to gold. It celebrates entrepreneurship, collaboration, and second careers developing from personal passions, combined with a love for animals, and last but not least, the rewards of persistence and risk taking. Our protagonists are Jus Vikse, of Cakes By Jus, Mark Dawidowicz, and his partner Geoffrey Lessard, of Porch Dog Coffee, and their canines, respectively Waffles and AJ. Discussing my coffee and cake notion with Jus, she became quite animated learning that Porch Dog Coffee’s first anniversary was fast approaching, and immediately volunteered to create a celebratory cake.
Jus hails from a long line of cooks and bakers, so to now be a cake maker seems entirely logical, but the origin of this aspect of her culinary adventure was actually Covid. As the restrictions became progressively more onerous, the restaurant she was running so successfully, encountered increasing financial strain: baking became a way to keep the ship afloat. The restaurant was her baby and for its five year life span, had been a fun and vibrant part of the community, but despite her valiant efforts it became unsustainable. Devastated by this turn of events, she sought solace in baking, channeling what she calls her natural “pre-school Play-Doh talent” to sculpt and mould sugar into art.
During a period of transition, she operated from a friend’s commercial kitchen before modifying her own home to meet those standards.
“In my family you weren’t allowed to curl up in the fetal position and wish obstacles away, instead you rose to the occasion, put one foot in front of the other, and made sweet out of sour.”
Slowly, slowly, cake by cake and with increasing traction on social media, she began to garner a degree of recognition as a local cake designer, creating all kinds of cakes. Initially she wasn’t even aware of where her true skillset lay, but creating artistic sugar flowers seemed to provide the greatest fulfillment, and that pointed towards all things bridal. That is where she thought she might stand out.
Cakes by Jus uses only the best of fresh, organic and natural ingredients such as butter, flour, cream, cheese, eggs, pure vanilla, premium cocoa and fresh fruit. Making the client’s vision come to life is where the artistry lies…translating the significance of an occasion into shareable bite sized unforgettable, photogenic memories is the challenge that Jus relishes. “To be invited to make a significant contribution to someone’s special occasion is both a particular challenge and a privilege.”
Cakes by Jus offers an Ontario wide service and has a specialized ‘cake safe’ in which to transport cakes ensuring deliveries arrive in perfect condition. For weddings and bridal showers, Jus prefers to deliver and set up the cake herself to ensure everyone is perfectly satisfied. All of Jus’s cakes are entirely hand-made and each one is uniquely designed in consultation with the client in question to ensure a fabulous outcome.
For Mark and Geoff, the transition was from thirty years of corporate grind and quarterly targets, in search of a creative outlet where personal passions could be expressed. They would roast coffee and create a new brand, but with a difference. The difference would be a purpose beyond just generating revenue, and that purpose would be supporting animal welfare. Other than being coffee drinkers, they were uniquely unqualified for their newly chosen vocation. Ignorance became opportunity as they approached the challenges of creating a new coffee roasting company on a blank canvas. Later they would reflect that ignorance had enabled them to approach problems with originality and authenticity which would help to establish themselves in a crowded market place. Now they are fond of saying, “its about authenticity and quality, not industry norms, and about connection, not convention.”
I asked how one goes about creating new recipes for coffee blends? Predictably, the answer was a lot of trial and error, “it took about a year to find the right beans and the perfect roast for each. There are so many variations of bean type, bean origin, even the individual farmer makes a difference and each harvest is unique. Then the process itself is full of variables, temperature and timing all make subtle differences. One finds oneself constantly checking quality and tasting notes to ensure the optimal taste. It’s like wine where each growing season can change the flavour profile.”
“Everybody asks why we named it Porch Dog Coffee and the explanation is we felt that name embodied a sense of home, community and companionship. Designed by local artist Vera Litynsky, the quirky eye-catching packaging is a departure from the sterile aesthetics of conventional coffee brands. We want our product to be approachable, memorable and fun.”
Porch Dog Coffee supports Determined as Diesel, an Ontario wide animal charity and the Small Town Cat Project, based in Warkworth. From sales of each bag of Diesel’s Fuel, the charity receives $5. Sales of the other flavours offer $1 per bag to animal welfare. The canine connection is further mined to name the individual blends, Midnight Howler, Cooper’s Fireside, All Bark No Bite, Aj’s 50/50, Unleashed and Wagging Tail.
Developing businesses have a natural tendency to foster relationships to create mutually supportive networks, just like a bee carrying pollen from flower to flower. Fittingly, Mark Dawidowicz, a long time apiarist, brings a collaborative spirit to entrepreneurial endeavours. Mark deals with distribution, and as a consequence of opportunities seen on his travels, pizza from The Shop in Warkworth is now available at the Lass & Ladle in Grafton, and the Hastings based Spade & Spoon’s small batch preserves can be found on the shelves at the Village Pantry in Warkworth.
Mark and Geoff are actively promoting collaborative connections among entrepreneurs to build a resilient local economy that champions small-town ingenuity. Let’s see what’s next in the pipeline. “It’s a mindset, if we all look out for each other, as Jus did in creating our cake, we can build a stronger business community. Business should think of themselves as playing on the same team and share ideas to help others develop. Look where we are now with an article in a magazine! In taking this collaborative attitude, Cakes by Jus and Porch Dog Coffee have become roving ambassadors for the Warkworth business community.
For additional information regarding Porch Dog Coffee and stockists see porchdogcoffee.com and to learn more about unique hand-made cakes see cakesbyjus.ca and also FB and Instagram.
