Gen Walters is running her hole-in-the-wall Maylands bakery with a simple motto in mind: “Built on the need for little treats”. But this small venue is offering up much more than just platitudes, she’s coming armed with perfectly-produced baked goods.

Walters spent a stint working at Beaufort Street sandwich stalwart Deli’s Continental where her cookies quickly earned such a cult following that she was inspired to go out on her own, opening Smidge in December 2023.

“I began baking all the cookies for Deli’s Continental within a couple of months of working there, so of course, the cookies were always going to be a must [at Smidge], but I didn’t want to be pigeonholed into one specific type of food,”Walters tells Broadsheet. “My aim is to be inclusive and to serve up affordable food, including options for those who are vegan or gluten-free.”

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While many recent bakery openings tend towards laminated doughs and slow-risen sourdough goods, Smidge’s limited space and focus on approachability keep the offering leaning wholesome and homely – a refreshing change perfect for those grabbing on the go.

Beef or chickpea and beetroot patties and freshly baked focaccia toasties (both $10) are sold alongside pastries and cakes. Think gluten-free friands loaded with chocolate chips; cinnamon scrolls generously coated in smatterings of sticky icing; and zesty lemon tarts with shortcrust pastry, all alongside Walters’s signature thick and chewy choc-chip and salted caramel cookies.

Walters is also using Smidge as a vehicle to support mental health initiatives. The profits from a select baked good go towards a different mental health cause each month, with Bluebird Mental Health the beneficiary from the opening months.

“I wanted to give back to some organisations that have helped me. One of my products will always have profits going towards a mental health organisation, opening the door for conversation and creating a safe space for customers and the community.”

Smidge Bakery
18 Lyric Lane, Maylands

Hours:
Wed to Fri 7am–2pm
Sat & Sun 8am–2pm

@smidge.bakery