Sweet start for new Tintinara pastry shop

The inviting cafe which has the feel and flavours of a city patisserie opened in November last year with much excitement from the locals.

There are also growing numbers of travellers on the busy Dukes Highway stopping off to sample the delights from tarts and cakes to pies and quiches- all made on the premise in small batches.

The Bake Shop's sausage rolls set out nearly every day and vanilla slices are also among customers' favourites.

Renae discovered her love of cooking early, learning from her mother who has passed on many treasured recipes.

"As soon as I could reach the (kitchen) bench I was wanting to make things, it wasn't long until I was in there doing it," she said.

"Mum had four brothers and sadly lost her mother when she was quite young so she had to learn to look after her brothers and her Dad on the farm up north where they lived and she became a beautiful cook."

After finishing school Renae moved into in hotel management- with event planning always a strong interest. But some years later when she moved to Tintinara for love, marrying a local farmer this was a chance to return to baking.

From their small home kitchen she started B Sweet, a wholesale cookie business making biscuits for cafes across the Limestone Coast.

She soon had 20 to 30 stockists but Renae says freight costs saw her change tack to custom orders for special occasion cakes, including wedding cakes.

In the past 18 months she has also moved into catering which she says has "taken off quickly".

Renae is largely self-taught in her baking but has attended several pastry courses in Adelaide and Melbourne to refine her pastry making techniques.

Life is busy especially with three young children but she says the shop has evolved around everything else.

It has also enabled her to get closer to her customers which she has loved.

"Until now I have always been hidden away in the kitchen sending off stuff or dropping off boxes but I often didn't even see the bride when I dropped off a wedding cake, now I can pop out of the kitchen and talk to my customers," she said.

The Bake Shop has welcoming furniture but Renae says the stand out piece is a historic serving counter which originated from the old Kadina store and was bought in a Kapunda antique store.

She is proud the shop which is next door to the Tintinara Caravan Park has become a meeting place but also hopes to entice more tourists to turn off into the town's main street.

"The pub closed last year which was sad to see and there hasn't been that place where the locals can come and catch up, especially young mums," she said.

"For some people baking brings stress but it brings me peace."