The team behind Florence launches Floss, an online bakery store selling cakes, cookies and shortbread

Since opening in 2018, Florence in Camp Hill has become one of Brisbane’s top cafes. Its creative and wholesome menu is backed by Parallel Roasters coffee and an impressive selection of baked goods (baked on-site by star pastry chef Jade Halloran). Now, owners Elizabeth Florence and Sam Pethely have launched Floss, an online store dedicated to the latter.

“We had people asking for whole cakes and the requests were increasing more and more,” says Florence. “We decided instead of [supplying these orders] across Florence, the offer was special enough to have its own platform.

A key part of Floss is Halloran, who previously cooked at Woolloongabba’s Pearl and owned Cake Kiosk at Powerhouse Farmers Market. When she joined the Florence team in 2019, she brought with her a dedicated clientele, which only grew during her time in Florence.

“[Halloran] takes really classic or familiar things and gives them a fresh, contemporary twist,” says Florence. “Everyone might know the style of cake, but they’ve never tasted the way she does it.”

Floss offers a selection of whole cakes, including a golden chiffon cake with blackberry compote and Italian meringue buttercream; a mandarin, cumquat and almond sage cake; and a rich mocha and walnut meringue cake. Other baked goods include cookies and mini-cakes, such as chocolate, nut, and rose cookies; Zaatar honey shortbread and mini meringue cakes with yuzu curd. A number of items are gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free.

Halloran and his team cook everything in an old garage behind Florence, which has been converted into a commercial kitchen. If you’ve ever dined in Florence, you may have seen the team carry finished cakes from the side of the cafe to the counter.

“A lot of people see the girls carrying things around the side of the house all the time and everyone is curious to know what’s going on there,” laughs Florence. “So that’s where they are.”

To place an order, visit the website and order at least 48 hours before pick-up, which is at the coffee counter. Delivery can also be arranged if required.

floss-bakes.com