Food is the zest of life for Julie Shotton.
It’s in her DNA; her French mother and grandmother were exceptional in the kitchen. She also has fond memories of catching fresh fish whilst visiting in her family in Ullapool.
Now, Julie runs The Wee Patisserie and Deli from her home kitchen near Midmar. She supplies a whole host of foodie delights to delis and cafes across the north-east.
From traditional pastries to more creative options like empanadas, Julie likes to keep things fresh when it comes to cooking.
She doesn’t follow any recipes. But like her family before her, she has a knack for producing food that’s full of variety and flavour – and most important of all, she loves every minute of it.
We talked to Julie to find out more about The Wee Patisserie and Deli.
Tell us about yourself.
My husband and I grew up together in Glasgow and married when we were pretty young. My husband was in the Merchant Navy so we travelled a lot. We moved to Aberdeen, then Stonehaven where we brought up our children.
We’ve moved around a lot throughout our lives, including to the US. But we’ve been on and off living around the north-east for a long time and we’re pretty settled here now. I was a specialist nurse in Aberdeen for autoimmune disease, but I finished my nursing around six years ago as I decided it was time for a change.
Have you always been into cooking?
I’ve always loved cooking. My mum was French and we were always brought up with really good food. She was from Dinard, a town in Brittany on the north-west coast. They had a market garden there which was very successful, but sadly it was all bombed during the war.
They lost absolutely everything, so my mum moved here when she was around 13 and ended up in Ullapool. My granny was a great cook as well. Whenever we went to Ullapool, it was always about fishing and we’d go out on the boat to catch fresh prawns and stuff like that. My whole life has been about food.
What inspired you to start The Wee Patisserie and Deli?
Going back to France was where my food ideas came from. I love all the markets there with all of the beautiful pastries they have on display. It’s not just all about the flavours for me, I love for things to look really nice, and that’s important with what I do.
But really, it all stemmed from when a friend mentioned I should make some things for a farmers’ market in Alford around six years ago. It was at Tullynessle and everything just sold out! I was a bit unsure beforehand, but this experience really made me think that I could make something of my cooking.
How has the journey been since?
I set up stalls at other markets in Aboyne and Banchory and I’ve done quite a few now. Later, when the markets stopped during Covid, I did a lot of home deliveries and started being contacted by delis to see if I would supply them. Now, this is what I’m focusing on. I supply local delis and other small, independent businesses. They’ve all been great. I also find I’m more inventive this way too. It’s small batches of more exciting stuff.
What are some of your most popular products?
My empanadas are always big sellers – they just go. I also do sweet potato and chorizo parcels, sausage rolls with a few special twists, quiches, all sorts of cakes like ricotta cakes with apple, blueberry and lemon… these are the sorts of things I love to make. They’re a bit more unusual.
It’s not all just about pastries, though. I’ve catered to parties looking for Italian food as well as Spanish tapas, I like to do a variety of things. I’d say it’s a 50/50 split between veggie and meaty options that I make. I also use a lot of my own produce that I grow in the garden and always try to source food as local as possible.
Where do you find the inspiration for your products?
I don’t follow any recipes really; I get an idea in my head and work it out from there. If it turns out well, then I’m chuffed. Trying different things and experimenting with food is something that I love. I’d say my street food style offerings are my favourites. I’ve made up Mexican, Spanish, Argentinian and Middle Eastern offerings before.
Which north-east cafes and delis do you supply to?
I supply to Hammerton on Great Western Road, Soo’s Lug out in Alford, Spider on a Bicycle Cafe and Ride Coffee House. I also do Torphins Market at the moment, which is at Platform 22.
All of the small, independent businesses I work with have been so supportive of me. It’s really important that we support each other, otherwise, all of these cafes and delis can easily just disappear.
What do you enjoy most about running your business?
I enjoy that people like my food. That’s the main thing. I love it when people say ‘wow, that’s amazing’ or any other nice comments. I love working in my own kitchen, I’ve got nobody to tell me what to do! I’m lucky in that I have a very lovely kitchen, actually. I listen to music while I do my cooking, my husband is a great supporter of the business as well. He’s retired, so he’s become my delivery boy now!
Future plans for Wee Patisserie and Deli?
I’d like to cater to things like office parties with my food at some point in the future. I also like to do a lot of fine dining food on the side, but I haven’t figured a plan of how to do it effectively as a business yet. I think this is something that people will be looking for more of in the future, but times are a bit tough at the moment. I think I could do it, but I’d make sure to practice on people first!
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