29 August 2023
Recently, Georgi Bates stopped in to have a quick chat with local Nut, owner of HoneyBee Boulangerie and Homewares.
Georgi Bates and Nut, Owner of HoneyBee Homewares and Boulangerie
A Taste of French Culture in Fairlight’s Heart
In the charming suburb of Fairlight, you’ll find a little slice of France. It’s called HoneyBee Boulangerie and Homewares, and it’s owned by Nut, a vibrant woman with a passion for French culture that’s as rich as the pastries she serves.
Nut: The Passionate Visionary
Fifteen years ago, Nut fell in love with a small homewares shop, HoneyBee Homewares, inspired by her lifelong admiration for French elegance. Her scrapbook filled with French inspiration and pictures led her to manifest her dream, one that quickly blossomed into a bustling boulangerie.
“The French style is particular,” Nut says, reflecting on her first French love. Though she humbly admits to being a ‘reluctant cook’, she’s curated a French-inspired collection of clothes, homewares, and of course, delectable pastries.
From Bread Shop to Boulangerie
Starting as a simple bread and coffee shop, Nut’s boulangerie has become something magical. It’s a place where locals gather, share snippets of their day, and connect with their community.
Eight weeks before Covid hit, Nut began this journey, fearlessly diving into her new venture, the boulangerie to sit beside her existing homewares shop. And despite the looming threats and lockdowns, her community rallied around her.
“You’re going to need this,” a young couple told her, gifting a bottle of wine and herbs from the local community garden. But the next day, as coffee shops were declared essential, Nut’s worries turned into happiness. And it is this happiness she feels on a daily basis that has given her the passion to keep evolving what was opened just as a “little bread shop”.
“It makes me feel euphoric in my tummy, just from laughing so much during the day,” she shares, a testament to the warm atmosphere she’s created.
A Menu to Die For
From Ryan’s pies, organic and made in Cromer, to Nut’s favourite salted caramel brownie, the menu at HoneyBee is crème de la crème in quality. There are carefully curated items from Mrs Jones the Bakery and a few other select suppliers from around Sydney. While Nut is particular about her suppliers, she doesn’t currently have an inhouse chef however will look to hire another one in the future to help her with some more homemade creations.
As for Nut’s own creations, the almond and Cointreau pastries and pâté are a specialty items waiting to hit the regular menu. The pate has a secret cult following, it is not advertised yet, but will be open to public orders shortly. These speciality items are as unique as the boulangerie itself.
With a range of other specialty items, HoneyBee also sells mustards, salts and raw honey. As we roamed the shop, Nut explained the theory behind eating local honey, which makes complete sense now she has mentioned it. Her reasoning is that local bees make local honey, which means the pollen they collect and bring back to the hive is all sourced from local plants. Since many seasonal allergies are caused by these same plants, eating honey that contains that pollen can potentially combat those allergies.
And the most popular item for daily clientele? The cinnamon twist – a must try when stopping for a coffee. But get in quick as they don’t last long!
A Community Embrace
From lines out the door during lockdown, to aligned coffee prices with neighbouring businesses, Nut’s boulangerie has become an integral part of Fairlight.
“We aren’t competitors; we all have something different to offer, Nut believes. And it’s clear that the locals agree.
At the heart of Nut’s success is her love for the Fairlight community. She feels privileged to be a part of so many daily routines and cherishes every story and regular customer.
“That’s true! You also get at least one of your five fruits a day, plus a few more bits and pieces!” Nut laughs, responding to Georgi‘s playful question about the health benefits of eating patisserie items for breakfast.
A Place of Connection and Joy
Nut’s HoneyBee Boulangerie and Homewares isn’t just a business; it’s a testament to dreams coming true, a community hub, and above all, a warm and welcoming embrace that resonates the beauty of French culture.
So, if you ever find yourself strolling down Sydney Road in Fairlight, don’t hesitate to step into HoneyBee Homewares and Boulangerie. You’ll find Nut there, with a smile as sweet as her pastries, ready to share a little piece of France and a lot of heart.
