Notes from a sweet kitchen

I have a passion for cakes and baking. My mum always used to say that I got my abilities from her father and grandfather.

I have always been fascinated by my family history, but in particular, my Mum's. Although she was born here, her grandfather was Swiss.

In 1870, Eliseo Depaoli and his wife, Maria, emigrated from Poschiavo, Switzerland, and relocated with their six children to Exeter.

Eliseo was a pastry chef and he opened a 'Swiss Cafe' in the heart of Exeter, on the high street. He called it 'Depaolis'.

Eliseo ran the shop in Exeter and opened another one in Exmouth but during World War II, the Exter shop was bombed. After the war, the council took control of all the rebuilding and Eliseo lost his lease on the shop. Soon afterwards, he returned to Switzerland leaving his wife and his son (my grandfather Enrico Depaoli behind).

Unfortnunately, I never had the chance to meet Enrico but my sister has told me stories of him and how he used to  bake gingerbread men in the oven, and tell her that they would come alive when he cooked. He sounded a lovely man and I'm hoping to continue where he left off... so I'm baking cupcakes, occasion cakes, truffles and basically anything that takes my fancy!

I'll soon put some of my 'Sweet n Suzies' cakes up on the photo gallery so that you can see them and maybe I can share some of my tips in future stories. Get in touch with me if you're interested in finding out  more about my cakes, or if you remember my great grandfather's shop in Exmouth or Exeter. I'd love to find out more.