YAW Bakehouse to expand cafe with American fusion pastries, sourdough

The owners of a popular cafe are bringing their unique style to the Mackay food scene with the launch of a new American fusion bakehouse offering everything from classic sourdough to cookie croissants.

The owners of a popular cafe are bringing their unique style to the Mackay food scene with the launch of a new American fusion bakehouse offering everything from classic sourdough to cookie croissants.

Everyone has a favourite from the bakery, but a new venture will offer the classics and much more as Mackay’s culinary scene keeps on growing.

YAW Bakehouse is “not your traditional Aussie bakery” according to owners Billy and Branden Tranberg, who opened the popular YAW cafe on Gregory St in 2020.

“We’re the little alternative kids on the block and we love being that,” Billy said.

“We’re not a fancy cafe, it’s YAW American-based cafe (where) you come for burgers, brunch, coffee, and then banging sweets next door.”

Billy and Brandan Tranberg are expanding their successful Mackay cafe with a new venture, the YAW Bakehouse. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Renovations are nearly done at the unit next door, the former home of the Whitsunday Biscuit Factory, with more room undercover for an extra 18 seats.

The Tranbergs also operate Ninny’s Catering out of the YAW kitchen, named in honour of their seven-year-old daughter Indigo.

YAW owners Billy and Brandon Tranberg, with the daughter Indie, also won Matt Preston’s Best Brunch in Mackay in 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

The physical expansion was important to Billy, who said YAW had long outgrown their dining space, and chef Brandan said he relished the chance to learn about baking and create exciting pastries.

“Sometimes you need something to just light that fire a little bit more, and this is what it is,” Billy said.

“We love our job, we love doing what we’re doing, we love everything about YAW and Ninny’s.”

YAW Bakehouse goodies.

“But you just got to keep going, got to keep growing, got to keep changing,” Brandan said.

Though Brandan said he would keep a few new goodies secret until opening, he said one American-style product would be twice baked croissants stuffed and topped with cookie dough.

YAW Bakehouse will open on March 16 with a “carpark party” specially opening both the cafe and bakehouse on a Saturday, days before Pain Au Chocolat Patisserie opens up on March 20 on Victoria St.

YAW Bakehouse cookie croissants. Photo: Contributed

“That’s what I’m most excited about for Mackay is that they’re going to get to experience traditional French patisserie and a (American-style) bakehouse ... the best of both worlds,” Brandan said.

Billy said she had never seen Brandan “so passionate about something”, who himself said it was “amazing” seeing the first trial sourdough batches come out of the oven.

“The thing with food is it’s memories ... you’re giving people the ability to have that connection with food, and that’s where I cook from,” Brandan said.

“Cooking’s from the heart, but baking’s from (the head), and then you gotta add the heart to it.”