Bea’s of Bloomsbury Founder Returns With New Bakery

Next week, one of London’s favourite American bakers, Bea Vo, makes her return to the London pastry scene — with a first permanent site for Butterscotch Bakery in the new White City Place development in west London. Vo made her name when in 2008 she founded the now-five strong group — which still bears her name — Bea’s of Bloomsbury.

“It’s been over 10 years since I founded Bea’s of Bloomsbury and I can’t wait to get back in the kitchen with some brand new, and delicious, ideas,” Vo said, ahead of the official opening on Monday 6 November.

Butterscotch will open on the ground floor of White City’s Westworks development. And, like when she introduced Londoners to the scope of North American pastry at Bea’s, the new menu will draw inspiration from Vo’s background, but also from across Europe. Eater London has been given details of the bakes, pastries and drinks available from next week:

• Freshly baked Buckeye Brownies
• Snickerdoodle cookies
• Snicker Fudge and Key Lime Pie cupcakes
• Elaborate “celebration cakes”
• A rotating menu of double stuffed croissants
• Cinnamon buns and madeleines
• Brewed coffee from leading London roasters Square Mile
• Turmeric or charcoal lattes

Official

Plus, apparently, a first for London: Vo’s custom designed porridge bar. Five bases, including organic Shipton Mill pinhead oats and a five-grain porridge made with house-made organic coconut milk. And a choice of over sixty (!) toppings, including fig bourbon compote, sea salted caramel sauce, and countless seeds and cereals. It’s wellness versus indulgence and the call belongs to the customer.

Official

Vo trained at the iconic Le Cordon Bleu cookery school and has since worked in kitchens around the world, including at Nobu. Following Bea’s of Bloomsbury’s success and expansion, Vo published her first cookbook in 2011; earlier this year, she launched Butterscotch online — a delivery service for the “the best in baked goods to homes and offices across London.” Vo’s bespoke celebration cakes and signature bakes are said to have a number of celebrity fans.

Ahead of Thanksgiving celebrations, and “answering the prayers of homesick Americans across London,” Vo has created a collection of signature Pies (starting at £26.95), cobblers and cheesecakes (from £35) which aim to bring “a true taste of the states to the UK.”

Butterscotch is open Monday to Friday from 8am.