When you talk about teh tarik swiss rolls, durian egg tart and ondeh ondeh pandan chiffon cake, the baker that comes to mind is Wendy Lau.
Wendy is a young baker who first started selling her goods on Instagram in 2020, offering creative flavoured sweet treats that many from South East Asian countries or who have travelled to the region will be familiar with.
Three years ago, she opened Folds Patisserie on Dominion Road, and the cult following to her baking continues to grow.
When asked what is the inspiration behind her creativity, flavours and baking, Wendy simply shrugs her shoulders and says, “It’s just who I am”.
Wendy was born in Malaysia and grew up in Brunei, and had a love of baking since she was a child. At every opportunity, whether for a school class party or a friend’s birthday, she would use it as an excuse to bake with her “two favourite people” - her mother and sister.
“I knew from a young age baking was my calling,” Wendy said.
However, her parents encouraged her to try other avenues, and she studied an Architecture degree, but she convinced her parents the kitchen was where she wanted to be.
Wendy switched paths and studied at Le Cordon Bleu, Wellington, and moved to Auckland after finishing the course. She then started working at kitchens in Amano, Ozone, Patch and The Sugar Club at SkyCity, to name a few.
“My strongest desire, however, has always been to bake Asian-style pastries and in flavours that I grew up with,” she said.
Lau opened her shop, Folds Pattiserie, on Dominion Road in 2022.
Employing fresh cream instead of buttercreams, the cabinet at Folds Pattiserie has everything from pandan lamingtons, kaya croissants, Milo swiss rolls to ube and taro tarts.
These are flavours that are nostalgic to people who grew up with them, like Malaysian kids who often drank Milo in schools, Singaporeans having kaya toasts for breakfast, and the love for ube by Filipinos, are among her best sellers.
Trialling new combinations and flavours is the favourite part of what she does, Wendy said.
“Of course, it gives me and my team great delight when we see the excitement of our customers when they see these flavours,” she said.
Along with what is offered in the cabinet, Folds also caters to special occasions and custom cakes - with flavours and designs that can be personalised.
Folds is at 297 Dominion Rd, Mount Eden. Ph 09 2189085. Business Hours: 9am-4pm (Wednesday to Friday), 10am-6pm (Saturday and Sunday). Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
