Green bags of baked delight once again top Clarence’s favourite bakery poll

Run in conjunction with Delicious magazine, we asked you vote for your favourite bakery in the Clarence Valley – and here’s the popular winner!

Who was named the Clarence Valley’s favourite bakery?

For the better part of 42 years, there are two words that have been synonymous with delicious baked goods in Grafton: Hank’s Kitchen.

With pies, sausage rolls, cakes and pastries all flowing out the door in their ubiquitous green paper bags, Hank’s Kitchen is the go-to place for a baked treat for many across the Clarence Valley and beyond, which is why they’ve been voted the Clarence Valley’s favourite bakery, run in conjunction with Delicious magazine and MasterChef maestro Matt Preston.

Hank’s Kitchen is no stranger to these polls, taking out many previous votes over the years when The Daily Examiner has called upon the Clarence community to have their voices heard to determine their favourite bakery.

Chrissy Hancock with a familiar and popular sight around Grafton: A Hank’s Kitchen green paper bag. Photo: Adam Hourigan

Hank’s Kitchen owner Chrissy Hancock said there were many things that made up their enduring popularity.

“We’ve been a part of Grafton for so long, it’s good to still be able to please people after all these years,” she said.

“We do still produce great products across the board, have wonderful bakers and staff, but I also think that because we’ve been trading for so long it’s helped create longstanding loyalty. It’s very humbling to have that kind of loyalty, with third and fourth generation customers coming through the door.”

After coming through the worst of last year’s COVID-19 lockdown with their staff still on the books, Hank’s Kitchen is now looking to bring through the next generation of bakery superstars with their Grafton store now hiring.

Owners of Hanks Kitchen Chrissy and Aaron Hancock at their new shop location in Junction Hill.

Mrs Hancock said their poll win was humbling and something they don’t take for granted.

“We love our community and it’s very humbling that they show that love for us,” she said.

“We often have people come to visit the Clarence, whether they’re coming home from university or calling in to see family and friends, and they come to visit us first. It’s really funny and amusing how common an occurrence that is.”