Style: September 01, 2022

Style | Feature 23
Bake news
United by a love of food – and of course by the fact they’re
brother and sister – Tom and Anna Worthington are on something of
a (jam and cream sponge) roll in the Christchurch hospo scene.
Words Juliet Speedy
As a parent, you can only hope when your children grow
up that they become great friends like Anna and Tom
Worthington are. The siblings share interests, friends and
have an obvious great deal of respect for each other.
One of their biggest shared interests is food, which has
blossomed into successful businesses for them both. Anna
Worthington has Cakes by Anna, now 10 years old, and
Tom has a more recent establishment, a small and simple
delightful café in central Christchurch called Tom’s.
The pair are from a big family and grew up, for the most
part, in Ilam. Tom and Anna are two of five children, now
scattered around the country and the world. They say food
was always important growing up; traditional hearty fare,
barbecues, all their dinners around the table.
But Tom and Anna (in the middle of the pack) are the
only ones that have ended up working with food. Tom
says his endless love for a sausage ragu blossomed from his
younger years watching yummy, saucy meals bubble away
on the stove.
“Mum made delicious one-pot meals (a special shout out
to her beef strog served with a big bowl of fluffy rice) and
dad loved cooking a nice piece of meat on the barbecue.
No one ever left the table hungry unless they were sent
away early for singing with their mouth full – that was me.”
A career in food was never in either of their plans. Anna
did a fine arts degree and travelled the world before Cakes
by Anna came along. Tom did a Bachelor of Performing
Arts in musical theatre. Anna says travelling definitely helped
grow her love of food but she never thought she would
end up as a full time baker.
“But I guess looking back it’s not surprising that I ended
up creating a business that is creative and hands-on. I’m so
happy to work in the food industry – it’s brought me a lot
of happiness to meet and surround myself with people who
love to make and eat food.”
She also spent lots of time in food markets abroad and
on her return to Christchurch, Anna noticed a gap in the
market for good cakes with a focus on seasonal ingredients.
So she started making and selling cakes.
That was 10 years ago, and her little market stall is
now a hugely popular business with a reputation all around
New Zealand.
Tom has always loved to cook, but first dabbled in
cooking for paying customers with a little home delivery
business some years ago, called Meatball Monday.
“I home-delivered spaghetti and meatball meals on
Mondays. I didn’t want to make meatballs forever but it
made me realise I was a good cook,” he says
The pair spend time together socially and they also
collaborate in their work. Anna bakes cakes for customers
full time but her only wholesale client is Tom’s café.
Her cakes have the feeling of something your clever
grandma would make, but a little more refined. The cakes
are in demand to the point where one of Anna’s biggest
challenges is finding the right balance in life and work. Aside
from a bit of help with delivery, she’s a one-woman business
and does everything on her own. She loves being her own
boss and that she can create the shape of her own week.
“I love that in summer I can leave work at midday and
head to the beach. I love the creative aspect of what I do
– developing recipes and coming up with fun ways to
garnish the cakes. My interest in food has led to a huge
passion for gardening, so I grow lots of flowers and herbs
for the cakes, and have also planted a number of fruit trees.”
At Cakes by Anna, you’ll find flavours such as apple date
caramel, chocolate olive oil and tamarillo, or a banging
basque cheesecake. Tom says he admires the way she has
kept her business so honest and of the highest quality while
making sure she sets aside time to do nice things for herself.
“Anna is a really good person who makes cakes that are
delicious and unique, and I think that’s what has made her
business so successful.”
Tom opened his café only last year. It’s a small but
beautifully designed space where the offerings are as simple
as they are delicious. His five daily sammies are fresh and
flavourful, with combinations such as peanut butter, pickled
celery, sprouts, mayo and Kaitaia Fire hot sauce or ham,
Swiss cheese, iceberg, gherkins, mustard and mayo.
You’ll always find a Cakes by Anna offering as well as
an old-school homemade pink bun filled with raspberry
jam. There are delightful daily scones too – like cheese
and jalapeño. Tom said he wanted to sell only a few things
but make them delicious. And he serves some mighty fine
coffee (Prima Roastery) to go with them too.
PHOTOS: Opposite: Sarah Rowlands; Next page top: Mark Townshend; Final page: Will Vink