Dulce’s dream becomes a reality as she opens the doors to her own patisserie in Blighs Meadow shopping centre

THERE were tasty treats galore on display and to sample when Dulce’s Patisseries in Blighs Meadow Shopping Centre gave invited guests a glimpse of what is going to be on offer when the store opens its doors to the public tomorrow (Friday, 11 May).

Dulce and Alain outside the new store in Sevenoaks.

The independent, family-owned patisserie is located on Brewery Lane, Sevenoaks between the centre of Blighs and the High Street and will serve delicious handmade French pastries, baked goods, cakes, quiches and sandwiches along with high quality coffees and loose leaf tea. You can either eat in or take them away.

Dulce Chua, with the support of her husband Alain, started their patisserie business from their home in 2013 and have been a firm favourite at farmers’ markets, foodie events and exhibitions in and around Kent, London and the South East ever since. Now the couple are to fulfil their ambition of opening their first shop

Dulce believes she was destined to be a patisserie chef after her parents gave her a name which means ‘sweet’. At an early age she displayed her natural talent for food and flavour, helping her mum in the kitchen and soon enough, was serving great food and bakes for friends and family.

My Sevenoaks Community colleagues Frank Baldwin and Steph Harrison sample some of the pastries on offer at Dulce’s Pattiserie with Emma.

Dulce originally studied medicine and qualified as a GP. After a long shift, she would be found in the kitchen baking and cooking as a way to de-stress. On a career break from medicine, Dulce decided to build on her natural ability as a baker and trained at Le Cordon Bleu where she gained a Diploma in Patisserie. Armed with the knowledge and training from the master chefs, she began to develop her own recipes at home in Kent and started to sell at local farmers’ markets.

By 2017, Dulce’s Patisserie had built up a strong following and Dulce won several national awards for her delicious quiches and baked goods.

Dulce said: “I am delighted to be opening my patisserie in Sevenoaks. My passion for cooking goes right back to my childhood and since I started my patisserie business five years ago, it has always been my dream to have my own shop. I’ve worked hard to perfect my recipes and it gives me joy seeing people discovering and enjoying my handmade cakes and baked goods.

“My vision for Dulce’s Patisserie is to create a cosy and relaxing place for families and friends to gather and share stories and laughter, whilst enjoying my award-winning food that I have made from the heart. I look forward to welcoming the people of Sevenoaks later this month.”