Patissier Ross Saunders expands Mornington pastry network to streets of Frankston
A MORNINGTON pastry maker is branching out his business as a sweet treat for Frankston shoppers and also for his trained apprentices.
South East
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A CHEF who helped establish Melbourne’s famed Laurent Bakery chain is bringing his decadent pastries to Frankston.
Patissier Ross Saunders has opened a pop-up cafe in Station St and was last week handing out free tastes of his freshly baked doughnuts, macaroons, croque monsieur, traditional croissants and baguettes.
Pop Choc cafe is an extension of the classic Chocolat of Mornington cafe Mr Saunders runs with his wife, Lisa Saunders.
It was inspired by a desire to retain apprentices once they finished their training, Mrs Saunders said. “There wasn’t enough work to keep on our apprentices and we didn’t want to let them go,” she said.
Mr Saunders added: “We were also looking to expand what we were doing in Mornington but didn’t feel like a classic patisserie was the way to go.
“The plan was to do something funky, to cater for a younger crowd looking for coffee and a sugar hit.”
The result is a colourful space that showcases a tempting display of doughnuts filled with Nutella, chocolate caramel, lemon meringue or jam.
There is also a twist on the traditional with macaroons resembling hamburgers and hot dogs.
Mrs Saunders said the venture was also a chance to give back to charity Red Kite.
“Red Kite helps families affected by cancer and they helped us a lot when our daughter Grace was going through cancer a couple of years ago,” she said.
All tips collected at the cafe will be donated to Red Kite and the couple plan to hold special fundraising events.
Pop Choc is at 3 Station St, Frankston, and is open daily from 8am to 5pm.