Table Hoppin

TABLE HOPPIN’ LuLu’s Bakery and Café settles into Pleasant Street spot

BARBARA M. HOULE

Olivia Hashesh and husband Mohamed Hashesh are owners of LuLu’s Bakery and Café, a business on the west side of the city that opened four weeks ago in the spot once occupied by the Corner Grille.

“It had been my dream for many years to own and operate a small bakery and café,” explained Olivia Hashesh, who despite not having a background in the food industry went from a stay-at-home mom to small business owner. She readily admits opening a business amid coronavirus takes hard work and a positive attitude. Being a little savvy also helps.

The couple’s business concept is pretty simple. It’s all about serving fresh food in a warm, neighborly space. LuLu’s at 806 Pleasant St., Worcester, is a go-to place for fresh pastries, salads, sandwiches and a decent cup of coffee, said Hashesh, who first heard about the availability of the Pleasant Street space through a close friend. The iconic Corner Grille permanently closed in June after 23 years in business in the city.

Hashesh was born in Paris and grew up in London. She started baking when she was young, working summers in her godmother’s tearoom located near the Louvre in Paris. “I really believe she gave me the basic ingredients that I needed to one day be able to open a successful bakery,” said Hashesh, whose father owns a wine shop and tapas wine bar in London. “I like to say I come from a family where food is considered a love language,” said Hashesh.

Mohamed Hashesh, born in Egypt, is in hotel management in the Boston area, previously having been manager of the Southbridge

Hotel & Conference Center in

Southbridge.

The couple and their three young children reside in Worcester. “We joke about LuLu’s being our fourth baby,” said Hashesh. “We’ve moved around a lot as a result of Mohamed’s work, but we love Worcester and are happy to be back. We lived here for a while before we made another move. We came back, and we’re now here to stay.”

The bakery underwent minor renovations and a fresh new coat of paint before the doors opened. “We struggled a little with figuring out a name for the business,” said Hashesh. “My mother called me Libby LuLu when I was growing up, and my husband came up with the idea of naming the bakery LuLu’s. It’s perfect. Easy to spell and remember.”

LuLu’s Bakery and Café is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Telephone: (774) 420-7455; visit https://lulusworcester.com. Connect on social media for daily specials, etc.

Hashesh said she’s keeping the café’s menu pretty simple for now. Breakfast items, served all day, include yogurt parfait, breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast and “quiche for one.” Luncheon salads run the gamut from “simple” to lemon arugula, couscous, chicken roulade, Caprese and beyond. Kids meals, $6.50, are served with choice of chips, fruit or cookie, and milk or juice.

Weekend specialties include “shakshouka” (eggs nestled and baked in a bed of spiced, stewed tomatoes, peppers and onions, topped with feta and cilantro) and falafel, both made by Mohamed Hashesh’s mother. Waffles also are available Saturday and Sunday.

Fresh assorted pastries are made daily. Scones, croissants and small Indian-style pies are among best sellers so far. Feta and mint, brie and fig and raspberry white chocolate scones sell out quickly, according to Hashesh. Note: The bakery does not sell bread at this time. “It’s something we’re looking into,” said Hashesh.

LuLu’s is taking orders for Thanksgiving pies, including the perennial favorite pumpkin pie. Call the bakery by Nov. 20 for pie selections and to order. Scheduled pickup dates are Nov. 24 or Nov. 25.

Welcome LuLu’s to the Newton Square neighborhood!

The Castle updates its hours

Mohamed and Olivia Hashesh, owners of LuLu’s Bakery and Cafe, located at 806 Pleasant St., Worcester.

ASHLEY GREEN

4 to 8 p.m. Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday through Thursday.

A wine tasting at 3 p.m. Nov. 22 will feature a selection of cabernet sauvignons from 1990 to 2018. “Each wine has a story to tell.” Reservations are required; limited availability. Call (508) 892-9090 to reserve.

The Castle Restaurant offers takeout for most items on its menu. Visit www.castlerestaurant.com for more information.

Veterans Inc. to host Holiday Harvest

Veterans Inc., 69 Grove St., Worcester, will host Holiday Harvest from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 24, a food distribution event that will provide veterans with all the Thanksgiving Dinner fixings to prepare a traditional holiday meal.

The annual event is a critical resource that reaches approximately 300 families in one day, according to Sherry Leger Callahan of Veterans Inc. Visit www.veteransinc.org to sponsor or donate to this event.

Note: All donation drop-offs at Veterans Inc. are scheduled in advance by calling (508) 791-1213, ext. 1116 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Veterans Inc. food pantry will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17.

New owners for Café Noir

Café Noir in Shrewsbury is under new ownership after being part of The Bean Counter family for the last 11 years.

“My reason to sell at this time allows me to focus my time and energy to brand Bean Counter Bakery Cafe and continue to add exciting bakery and drink products,” owner Alice Lombardi said.

The Bean Counter last week debuted the Princess Torte, a recipe passed on to Lombardi by longtime friend Jon Lundstrom, owner of Crown Bakery & Cafe, which permanently closed this year after 60 years in business in the city.

In a Facebook post, Lombardi wished the new owners the best of luck and sent a thank you to the community for their support.

Bean Counter’s flagship store opened in May at 270 Grove St., Worcester. Other Bean Counter locations: 288 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury, and 113 Highland St., Worcester.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.