Young woman opens incredible patisserie at site of 114-year-old home

A 20-year-old woman who worked as a head pastry chef at a 5-star Gold Coast restaurant at 15 has come back to her hometown to open an incredible patisserie and residents can’t get enough.

Sophie Litzow has opened Tins and Trays in Gatton.

It is Gatton’s oldest home, built 114 years ago, but now a young cake baker and decorator has transformed it into an upper-class patisserie.

Sophie Litzow opened Tins and Trays on Railway St to sell her amazing baked goods with specialities including sweets, croissants and eclairs.

She also offers breakfast and lunch dine-in and has a takeaway menu too which includes coffee.

It has been a huge hit in Gatton with the patisserie filled with locals and region visitors all day.

Sophie Litzow has opened Tins and Trays in Gatton.

Ms Litzow had plans to open in April but due to a number of delays including the COVID-19 pandemic hitting, the opening was pushed back until November.

“It was frustrating but I didn’t want anything to stop me because I know this is my dream and it’s what I want to do with my life,” she said.

“It’s been great. So many people are coming in saying they’re glad we’re open because there isn’t anything like this here. We sell hot food which includes meals for breakfast and lunch, and we also have a sweets cabinet that changes all the time.

Sophie Litzow has opened Tins and Trays in Gatton.

“I like to continually create new sweets so there is always something different.”

Ms Litzow is only 20 but has been baking since she was 14 when she got a taste for being in the kitchen with her grandma.

Ms Litzow’s family enrolled her in classes at Merivale Cakes and Crafts with renowned wedding cake artist Mary Reid.

Ms Reid knew the young girl had talent right away.

“You see the skill early in bakers and Sophie definitely had the gift,” she said.

“It is an absolute honour to be a part of someone’s journey and was amazing to see how much family support she had to get to this point.”

Sophie Litzow has opened Tins and Trays in Gatton.

Ms Reid and her family came up with annual training programs so Ms Litzow could continue building her skills, as she was progressing rapidly.

She also dropped out of school after completing year nine to undertake a baker’s apprenticeship in Gatton.

Ms Litzow said although it was a young age to leave school she had her heart set on being a baker.

“I’d never had any other thoughts of being anything else and I absolutely loved it so I knew it was the right move,” she said.

Not long after starting her apprenticeship she was approached by a 5-star restaurant on the Gold Coast that asked if she would work as their head pastry chef.

It was an opportunity too amazing to pass up and Ms Litzow moved to the coast at 15 to live with her sister who was studying at university.

Sophie Litzow has opened Tins and Trays in Gatton.

Despite the coastal move Ms Litzow always wanted to come back to Gatton and open her own business.

Her family spent months helping her restore an old house on Railway St and have turned it into a stunning venue, worthy of Ms Litzow’s baked goods.

“Even when I was working at the Gold Coast I was coming back here on the weekends, filling cake orders for my customers here,” she said.

“I love the region and my family are organic vegetable farmers, so I am all about supporting the area and its local suppliers.

Ms Litzow also still creates wedding cakes and has a separate cake room which she uses for showcasing wedding cakes and specialises in making edible flowers.

Visit Tins and Trays on Facebook and Instagram.