A taste of Europe will be introduced to the Medford area within the next month.
Ulla Winkler, owner of Ulla's Flowers and Gifts on Boston Avenue, and Tufts alumnus Kathleen Flahive (LA '04), are completing the final stages of expanding the store to include a European-style bakery and caf?©, to be located on the corner of Boston Avenue and Winthrop Street.
Flahive finished her undergraduate work at Tufts this past spring with a major in peace and justice studies. She and Winkler decided to open the caf?©, which will be called The Danish Pastry House, with the aim of expanding the culinary options available in Medford.
"Everybody who comes back from [studying abroad in] Europe, is saying, 'The pastries are so great there,'" Flahive said. "It's a shame that we don't have those types of bakeries in the United States."
Flahive explained that the use of different ingredients and training methods results in a disparity between the European product and the American one. To ensure that The Danish Pastry House will be producing the "real deal," Winkler and Flahive went on a trip to Denmark last year to recruit bakers. The caf?© will also use special ingredients, including marzipan, imported from Denmark.
In addition to a full line of breads and European pastries, the caf?© will feature a full cold stone creamery style ice cream bar, a full juice and smoothie bar, and a bar that serves Spanish style hot chocolate.
Flahive, however, said she hopes that The Danish Pastry House will be about more than just cultural food.
"I am in it to give back to the community," she said, noting that all of the leftover bread at the end of the day will be donated to area shelters and food banks. "We are really trying to create a place that is welcoming to the Tufts community and to the Medford community."
According to Winkler, all that needs to be completed before the opening of The Danish Pastry House are the electrical wiring and the plumbing.
Some Tufts students have shown excitement upon hearing about the new addition to Boston Avenue.
Junior Olivia Jaras said that she is looking forward to the selection of European style breads. "I really don't like plain white bread," she said. "My housemate and I go to Wild Oats twice a week to get fresh baked bread, and I would be totally up for the bread [at the new bakery.]"
Flahive did not express much concern about competition from other local food establishments. She believes that the quality of product offered by The Danish Pastry House will attract locals and students.
"People are absolutely still going to be going to the caf?©s in Davis, but it will be great to have a place a block from campus," she said. "I feel like Tufts could use a place like this.