CHRISTMAS time for the Fren family means starting work at 5am to supply Newcastle with shortbread.
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Family operated Oma’s Kitchen produces approximately 15,000 shortbread a week to keep up with supply demands.
Owner Catherine Fren has used her Oma’s (German for grandmother) recipes to create traditional German sweets.
Catherine’s husband Mark said the recipes, German staff and family atmosphere give the restaurant more authenticity.
‘‘Oma’s traditional recipes live on,’’ he said.
Oma’s Kitchen has a range of goodies available, from almond and hazelnut shortbread, chocolate platzchen, kinder biscuits, twinkle stars, ginger biscuits and lebkuchen.
The family recipe has people coming back year after year, with the shortbread making its way around the world as gifts.
Merewether local Tracey Kemmett purchased fives boxes for her insistent daughter.
‘‘They are to send to the UK to my daughter and her boyfriend, she won’t have anything else,’’ she said.
Oma’s Kitchen on Watt St, Newcastle will be open every day until Christmas and has a variety of gift wrapped packs and presents available.
