Baking makes Helena Houlis feel connected with her roots on two continents, but just as “rewarding” are the smiles on people’s faces when she delivers the goodies.
Houlis, 25, a baker and more at her mom’s Ana’s Kitchen Cafe in Simsbury has started a side business, Scones & Co.
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The sign, nestled between Han’s Nails and Bill Selig Jewelers in the Drake Hill Mall shopping plaza, and vinyl window decals still say “Peaberry’s Café,” but subtle changes are noticeable inside the Simsbury coffee shop. The slate blue paint, cushy sofas and fireplace flanked by bookshelves remain, but the expansive chalkboard wall detailing the day’s … Continue reading Simsbury’s Peaberry’s Cafe to Become Ana’s Kitchen Cafe
She puts her own spin on the traditional scone recipe — hers are moister than most — and delivers them for free with a holiday greeting or other message from the sender. Some people even have a box of her scones delivered to themselves.
Scones & Co. owner Helena Houlis holds a variety of scones as she stands next to her car in West Simsbury on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. (Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant)
“Delivery is something I look forward to,” she said. “I drive up and people are excited. People are excited to try something you’ve made them. It’s very rewarding.”
Houlis said scones are “are something really sentimental,” to her.
“It makes me think of my family,” Houlis said.
She was born in Brazil, then lived n England from age 11 to 18, when the family left to come to the United States because of her stepfather’s job.
She has warm memories in England of her and her mom and little brother sharing a small plate of scones in addition to their breakfasts when they went out to eat.
When baking she also feels connected with her dad in Brazil, who was always cooking and baking with her mom. Her parents once ran a bakery together in Brazil.
“Since he’s in Brazil it’s something we can share even though we’re not physically together,” Houlis said, referring to dad.
Baking makes Houlis feel, “really peaceful ” she said. In the restaurant business you’re always rushing and baking doesn’t work “unless you’re in the present, in the moment,” she said.
“It help me stay grounded,” Houlis said. “It’s therapeutic for me.”
Right now for free delivery she is offering a box of 20 scones for $35, half of them maple walnut and half of them cinnamon, both flavors bestsellers.
The scones are delivered in a box with tissue paper and buyers can send a personal message.
There’s a no more than 24-hour turn around at present and her delivery area goes as far as Hartford, although the delivery radius has not been set in stone.
Houlis said scones are round, not triangular and are moister than traditional scones.
Customer Lola Allen, a nursing technician at Hartford Hospital, said she’s “not a scone person,” because they’re general too dry.
“But I can’t get enough of hers,” Allen said.
She said delivery is a great idea too.
“I think in today’s world it’s perfect,” Allen said. “Everyone has something delivered.”
Ana’s customer Fran Sethre said Houlis’ scones are “delicious.”
“They are a wonderful, hardworking group of people. Very entrepreneurial,” Sethre said of the family.
As much as baking is a labor of love, Houlis has a goal in mind: She’s trying to earn extra money to become a Pilates instructor.
“This year I decided I’m going for it. But it’s expensive,” she said of training to be an instructor. “I had to do something different that people couldn’t normally get in any other store.”
Houlis takes three Pilates classes a week and is a fan of the workout method, she said, because it’s an efficient workout with controlled movements that “works out a lot of different muscles at the same time.”
“It’s good from the inside out,” she said. “It helps you control your body and your mind,” she said.
What of the irony that she’s selling baked goods to fund an exercise career?
“I think the message is to be kind to your body. Watch what you eat, but treat yourself and be kind to yourself,” she said. “I wouldn’t recommend eating my scones every day.”
Houlis lives in Barkhamsted with her husband, whom she said is the “No. 1 fan” of her business.
Houlis said her delivered scones can be ordered through her Facebook or Instagram accounts.