This is the story of a Nordic-inspired bakery that serves coffee, Venetian blinds, and moments of pure serenity.
Traversetolo is a small town in the province of Parma, rich in history and natural resources, and it is here that Andrea and Yenifer decided to open Erzulie_DolceVite.
Theirs is a successful partnership, both in their private life and at work: they divide their time between the pastry shop—Yenifer—and the café—Andrea—who is also responsible for selecting the wines.
Opening a bakery in 2020
Some would say it's crazy: Andrea and Yenifer opened their seasonal bakery on December 23, 2020. It all started when Italy came to a standstill with the lockdown in March.
Left without work, Andrea and Yenifer, instead of letting themselves be overwhelmed by the moment, seized the opportunity to kick-start a project that had been close to their hearts for some time.
They believed in their idea, aware that they could bring a breath of fresh air to Traversetolo. So, while bars and restaurants were closing, theirs was born, designed to adapt to the new conditions thanks to a takeaway menu and single-portion products: such as the much-loved plum cake on a wooden stick, reminiscent of Magnum ice cream.
Season Bakery
Express cooking avoids waste; seasonal cooking enhances flavors.
At Erzulie, the menu follows the seasons, based on the belief that every ingredient is good at the right time.
Andrea and Yenifer know that an unforgettable dish is always the result of the combination of high-quality ingredients and the chef's creativity, something they have learned through experience.
That's why they only choose products that they would eat in their everyday lives, at the exact moment when nature makes them available. In other words, they would never serve you strawberries in December.
As people who are deeply in love with the planet they inhabit, they are ready to do everything possible to preserve it. They know that conscious sourcing is a starting point and they tend to involve their customers in their ethical thinking.
Orders for special occasions are taken on the spot; there are no displays of ready-made cakes, so nothing is ever thrown away. Customers place their orders in advance, telling Yenifer what they like and dislike, and then she creates a dessert for them that goes straight to the heart.
Where joy is naturally leavened
Erzulie is a bright, minimalist-style venue filled with plants. When you enter, you are immediately greeted by the aroma of the workshop, which varies depending on what time of day you walk through the door: in the morning It will be the aroma of freshly baked Venetian pastries, the first thing Yenifer takes care of every day, just enough time to put on her Japanese-style apron and then turn on the oven. Later, when the drowsiness of the early hours of the day gives way to the first hustle and bustle, the aroma of coffee takes over: from classic espresso to cappuccino to Matcha tea, to delicious filter coffee, very popular in northern bakeries.
The day continues with savory items: the bread for toast is made with excellent flour, and then there are club sandwiches, filled tarts, focaccia, shortbread, and financiers.
For all those moments of the day that follow the morning, such as lunch and aperitifs, Andrea, the family sommelier, takes care of the beverages, selecting the best labels, spirits, beers, and natural liqueurs.
The spirit of Erzulie
Erzulie is the name of a goddess, the essence of femininity associated with love and beauty, who belongs to the folklore of Haiti and other Caribbean regions.
DolceVite – the sum of Yenifer and Andrea's great passions: pastry and wine.
Their story also has something of ours, certainly sharing the context of this complex era, great courage, and the desire to work according to a set of essential personal values, among which respect for the environment stands out.
Running a kitchen today is more than ever a challenge, and the choice to do so ethically makes it an investment that may not always seem profitable at first glance, but one that we believe will pay off for all of us.
Erzulie_DolceVite is located in Traversetolo, at Via Della Libertà 18, just twenty minutes from Parma. Andrea and Yenifer are waiting for you and can't wait to let you taste their Venetian pastries.
You can also follow them on Instagram: @erzulie_dolcevite
