Yamanto Central Patisserie wins at QLD Baking Show 2023

A Vietnamese baker who arrived in Australia as a teen with nothing is living his business dream after picking up one of the state’s top industry awards.

Leon Ly had always had an interest in food and baking and this led him to start up his own bakery businesses. Picture: Contributed​

A well-known Ipswich baker has been recognised for his hard work with a swag of top awards.

It was a long way from Yamanto Central Patisserie founder, owner and chief baker Leon Ly’s beginnings as a teenage immigrant starting from scratch.

Mr Ly recently won four awards at the Queensland Baking Show including the top gong — best white hi-top half loaf.

The awards placed Yamanto Central Patisserie in the top tier of bakeries in the state.

It was not only a wonderful accolade, but testimony to his family’s determination to succeed after moving to Australia for a better life.

When Mr Ly arrived in Brisbane from Vietnam in 1998 at the age of 16 he looked forward to starting a new life and connecting with his great-grandmother.

Leon Ly had always had an interest in food and baking and this led him to start up his own businesses. Picture: Contributed

His grandmother earlier fled war-savaged Vietnam, arriving in Australia in 1981.

Mr Ly said he had always had an interest in food and baking, which prompted him to start up his own bakery businesses.

He was mentored by the founder of Ray’s Patisserie and fell in love with the idea of having his own venture.

These days he owned several bakeries including Yamanto Central Patisserie, which opened in the Yamanto Central Shopping Centre in Ipswich in 2021.

“I am very proud to win these wonderful awards,” Mr Ly said.

“I work 14 hours a day, six days a week baking, operating the business and constantly looking for new ideas and ways to create exciting new products for our customers.

Leon Ly and Sandra Tran at the opening of Karalee Village Patisserie. Picture: Cordell Richardson

“Bread and pastries are such versatile and wonderful products.

“From sandwiches to morning tea treats, to afternoon delights to evening desserts, there is so much you can do with them to surprise and delight any palate.”

In 2021, Mr Ly opened Karalee Village Patisserie. He also had bakeries located in Silkstone and Collingwood Park.

Mr Ly has won numerous awards for his pies, which he has said were the standout item in every one of his stores.

Vicki Leavy, the general manager of Yamanto Central Shopping Centre’s owner, JMK Retail, said she was honoured to have Mr Ly’s bakery as one of their tenants.

“Leon‘s wonderful breads and pastry products are hard to walk past... as everything just looks so tempting,” Ms Leavy said.

“Yamanto Central Patisserie has been trading since day one of our 2021 opening and now the rest of the country knows thanks to the patisserie’s awards at this year’s Queensland Baking Show.