Three Bean Espresso is one of my favourite places in Newcastle for coffee and muffin. When I first moved here and started following a bunch of people from Newy on Twitter, little did I realise that one of them would be responsible for baking my muffins.
Alice Lees operates Uprising and if you check out her blog you can follow her progress as she conjures up the most incredibly tasty-looking sweet treats every week. Pear & licorice tart? Lemon brulee? Citrus, thyme & honey tarts? Marshmallows? Yes, yes, yes & yes.
And to think that this whole time she's really an Honours student in Silversmithing...
What is it about Newcastle that allows people to have a go at seemingly anything their heart desires? For me, this city gives people permission to have an unbridled crack. And that, one way or another, it works out in the end.
ALICE LEES
Condensed CV:
I was born in Hobart, Tasmania and moved to Newcastle when I was three. I went to the same school from Kindergarten to Year 12 at Newcastle Grammar. I packed up and moved to Canberra as soon as I finished my HSC and attended ANU completing a Visual Arts degree in Silversmithing at the Canberra School of Art. There I met a Queensland boy in the furniture department and brought him back to Newcastle as soon as we had both finished Honours.
We set up a product design workshop together called Shiny Factory, I got a casual job waitressing at Three Bean Espresso (cnr Tudor & Beaumont Sts, Hamilton, 4961 2020) the day before their doors opened and worked there for two and a half years while building Shiny Factory.
I then worked as a teacher at the Design Centre Enmore at Sydney Institute of TAFE (still living in Newcastle, doing a crazy commute). About a year ago I thought I might make a few cakes on the side and sell them to Three Bean for a bit of extra money now it looks like I have a business.
What has been your most memorable project?
In regards to Uprising and making cakes, it has all been so fast every week is a blur and a distant memory, I need some more time to develop that one.
What would be your dream project?
My dream project would combine both Shiny Factory and Uprising designing and fitting out a bakery and creating an array of cakes, tarts and breads. I think Newcastle would love it.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Delivering hot muffins every week day, for over a year before 7am (give or take 5min).
What is your most treasured possession?
I am not sure I have a treasured possession, I am tying to get over my natural instinct to horde things. Perhaps if it is not an object as such it is my ability to make things, whether it is with my designer hat on or my baking hat.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?
I get up at 4:30am stumble into the kitchen and begin making batches of muffins, and start to prep pastry, cakes and tart fillings. Once the muffins are done I start my first delivery for the day. On this first delivery run I try and drink as much coffee as I am offered, I check what cakes are needed to be made come back and begin making cakes and tarts or place orders for ingredients I need. Somewhere I squeeze in breakfast, bake, bake, bake, and run the second delivery.
What is your most valuable pearl of wisdom gained since starting your business?
Stay on top of the book keeping, I still am mastering this one.
Where do you derive creative inspiration?
I love to go on random driving trips and visit other towns, it makes me refreshed, and lets me see things I think would be great if they were in Newcastle, it also reminds me just how good Newcastle is. In regards to making cakes I probably ate too many tarts at a place called Silo Bakery when I was in Canberra at University. I think this is where I get my initial inspiration, then day to day it is from books, magazines, blogs and the people around me who put in requests.
Which other designers, artists or creative people are you most inspired by at the moment?
At the moment my favourite blogs are:
The Selby
Lemonpi
Luxirare
My favourite bakers / authors on baking are:
Dan Lepard
Jeffrey Hamelman
Maury Rubin
I am not sure I have a treasured possession, I am tying to get over my natural instinct to horde things. Perhaps if it is not an object as such it is my ability to make things, whether it is with my designer hat on or my baking hat.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?I get up at 4:30am stumble into the kitchen and begin making batches of muffins, and start to prep pastry, cakes and tart fillings. Once the muffins are done I start my first delivery for the day. On this first delivery run I try and drink as much coffee as I am offered, I check what cakes are needed to be made come back and begin making cakes and tarts or place orders for ingredients I need. Somewhere I squeeze in breakfast, bake, bake, bake, and run the second delivery.
What is your most valuable pearl of wisdom gained since starting your business?
Stay on top of the book keeping, I still am mastering this one.
Where do you derive creative inspiration?
I love to go on random driving trips and visit other towns, it makes me refreshed, and lets me see things I think would be great if they were in Newcastle, it also reminds me just how good Newcastle is. In regards to making cakes I probably ate too many tarts at a place called Silo Bakery when I was in Canberra at University. I think this is where I get my initial inspiration, then day to day it is from books, magazines, blogs and the people around me who put in requests.
Which other designers, artists or creative people are you most inspired by at the moment?
At the moment my favourite blogs are:
The Selby
Lemonpi
Luxirare
My favourite bakers / authors on baking are:
Dan Lepard
Jeffrey Hamelman
Maury Rubin
Apart from your work, what other interests, passions, hobbies do you have?
My hobby has just become my work so I guess I will have to find a new hobby.
How long have you been a Novocastrian?
I guess I have been a Novocastrian since 1983.
Newcastle in a word?
Home
What do you love and hate about living in Newcastle?
I love the beauty of Newcastle's coast line, the ocean baths, the weather, that it is a working city that builds and makes things, and that my family all live here. I hate the missed opportunities of urban planing, the lack of public transport, and you can't get a decent pizza anywhere.
How is Newcastle different to anywhere else?
I guess most people will say there home town is unique.
My hobby has just become my work so I guess I will have to find a new hobby.
How long have you been a Novocastrian?
I guess I have been a Novocastrian since 1983.
Newcastle in a word?
Home
What do you love and hate about living in Newcastle?
I love the beauty of Newcastle's coast line, the ocean baths, the weather, that it is a working city that builds and makes things, and that my family all live here. I hate the missed opportunities of urban planing, the lack of public transport, and you can't get a decent pizza anywhere.
How is Newcastle different to anywhere else?
I guess most people will say there home town is unique.
Where are your favourite places in Newcastle / Hunter to:
+ eat
That is a hard one there are quite a few places. I did have a great Chinese meal at Sino-food (47 Beaumont St, Hamilton, 4962 1888) the other week. Super spicy and very authentic Chinese. I have yet to try the pickled chickens feet.
For special occasions I have always had a fantastic time at Bistro Tartine (52 Cleary St, Hamilton, 4965 3648).
+ drink
Islington off-leash dog park (Islington Park, off Tighes Tce, Tighes Hill), there is a bottle shop on the edge of the park and most afternoons you will find a group of people clutching a beer in one hand and a dog ball in the other (or if you are a morning dog walker there is a coffee group).
+ shop
The Essential Ingredient (Junction Fair, 200 Union St, The Junction, 4962 3411), and the op-shops and second hand shops along Maitland Road in Islington.
+ play
The Bogey Hole in summer. I am much more of a home body in winter.
What is Newcastle / Hunter’s best-kept secret?
That it is so close to Sydney and Sydney hasn't realised it yet.
+ eat
That is a hard one there are quite a few places. I did have a great Chinese meal at Sino-food (47 Beaumont St, Hamilton, 4962 1888) the other week. Super spicy and very authentic Chinese. I have yet to try the pickled chickens feet.
For special occasions I have always had a fantastic time at Bistro Tartine (52 Cleary St, Hamilton, 4965 3648).
+ drink
Islington off-leash dog park (Islington Park, off Tighes Tce, Tighes Hill), there is a bottle shop on the edge of the park and most afternoons you will find a group of people clutching a beer in one hand and a dog ball in the other (or if you are a morning dog walker there is a coffee group).
+ shop
The Essential Ingredient (Junction Fair, 200 Union St, The Junction, 4962 3411), and the op-shops and second hand shops along Maitland Road in Islington.
+ play
The Bogey Hole in summer. I am much more of a home body in winter.
What is Newcastle / Hunter’s best-kept secret?
That it is so close to Sydney and Sydney hasn't realised it yet.
Blog: www.bakeduprising.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @bakeduprising
Twitter: @bakeduprising
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