27th February 2016
Better still. the newspaper suggested that Dello Mano was the most beautiful cafe in Brisbane!
The gorgeous Virginia creeper at the front of the restored shop site was planted by the Dello Mano brownie business owners, just days after moving into the store at 29 Doggett. St. Teneriffe. "Establishing any kind of plant subject to that direct western sun is not easy, but I was determined to create the prettiest little cafe and store to sell our brownies" said Deborah Peralta who with her husband Bien Peralta pioneered the Australian Brownie revolution back in 2006.
"The plants weren't easy to come by however we were able to order them with the expertise and assistance of the team at
DIG on James St. We moved into the store in November so the plants were very slow to start. With lots of tender loving care and a will to make the store the most beautiful place to buy brownies, it wasnt long before they took off and engulfed the entrance." said Deborah. " We thought if you're looking to buy chocolate gifts, brownies and cakes then the experience must be welcoming, beautiful and unique" says Bien Peralta,
Never a couple to follow the trend, the Peraltas leveraged the same entrepreneurship they used when they launched their pioneering Brownie business and so set up their Brownie store completely in contrast to what was the trend toward white, simplistic interiors. "We felt that the Brownie had been forgotten and with our push to drive it to stardom, the store interior needed to represent the many complexities of chocolate and brownies. Brownies and chocolate are not simplistic, If you want to buy chocolate gifts or brownies then the experience has many layers" explained Bien.
"We drew on inspiration from Europe although our style is very eclectic so we chose to just go with the flow in its development and do what we felt right " says Deborah. In her own words she "adores" the
Porters Paints brand, and so chose the Chinese Red as what she believed to be the perfect colour to enhance the doors to brownie heaven!
Hands on in the shop fit out was an understatement. The Peraltas not only sourced the vines and planted them but went on to undertake much of the internal design themselves. "It was hard to explain to the trades how the walls should look. I had a photo of an old wall that I'd kept for years and felt the only way to get it was to do it myself" says Deborah.
Keeping the vines alive over the years has been hard work. A very strict watering regime carried out by the Dello Mano team has seen the vines not only grow but totally prosper.
The mature vines now cling beautifully to the store and surround that well known red door.
Next time you are going past, step inside those vines and experience what awaits. There you can enjoy a sample of the Original Luxury Brownies - it truly is an experience.
