Wine, pastries and a view of the water. The Sydney Bakery & Wine Bar in Old Town Mukilteo is a happy place even when it’s not happy hour.
Owner Judy Schneider-Wallace spent two years remodeling the 1920s cottage that sits uphill from the ferry terminal to Whidbey Island. After opening earlier this year, The Sydney quickly became a popular spot to relax with a book, chat with friends, giggle with grandkids or grab a scone with coffee before work.
Schneider-Wallace, 48, is new to the restaurateur scene. She’s a former elementary school teacher-turned-baker with two kids, Jack, 17, and Sydney, 11.
The glass display cases brim with lemon bars, super-sized snickerdoodles, mason jar desserts, molten lava cakes, pies, sticky buns and granola parfaits. There’s also dining grub, including sandwiches and quiche. Or how about an Aussie pie—a flaky pie crust filled with savory ground beef and topped with puff pastry?
Sip a glass of Woop Woop Australian Shiraz with a plate of cheese, olives and almonds. Watch your cares dip into the sea at sunset.
It might seem ironic the bakery came about from a life-shattering tragedy. Schneider-Wallace talks about that tragic event and how she came to start the bakery.
What’s the story behind the name of the bakery?
In 2002 my husband, Paul, got accepted to Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. Both Paul and I had always wanted to live overseas together. I applied for a sabbatical with the Mukilteo School District and received it to study the literacy programs in Australia. We spent an amazing year living, loving and traveling around Australia with our young son Jack. Our year came to an end and we moved back to the states.
A few years later we were pregnant and decided to name our daughter Sydney after the beautiful city.
The bakery itself is inspired by the cafes that I frequented while living in Brisbane. Our menu features Aussie pies, sausage rolls, scones and Australian favorites such as sticky toffee pudding.
Why did you decide to get into baking?
On Sept. 7, 2011, my life and the lives of my children changed in an instant. It was the first day of school. Jack was starting seventh grade and Sydney was having her first day of first grade.
It was a normal start with me as a teacher having a new group of second graders excited for school. Paul, as usual, came to my classroom to volunteer for a few hours that morning.
The day ended and I walked my class out to the buses and made sure each of my students were on their way home. Then I noticed that Sydney wasn’t picked up. That was strange: Paul was supposed to get her. From that moment I knew something was wrong.
That day, after Paul left the school, he had gone home and ended his ongoing battle with depression by killing himself. I was instantly a widow raising two children on my own.
Time moves forward and I had to start creating a new and different life for my children and myself. The kids went back to school after the funeral, but I found out how difficult it is to wade through all the aspects of a person dying. The kids and I joined support groups, went to doctors and moved to an apartment.
I eventually got back into the classroom and continued teaching. I knew I needed to make a change for all of us. I took a leave from the 2012-13 year of teaching to focus on my kids and rebuilding. During that time, I continued to substitute teach. I also met the man who is now my husband. We had an immediate connection. That April I signed my contract to teach at a different Mukilteo school. I bought a new house in June and got married in August.
I thought my life as a teacher, something that I had done for 20 years, would continue on. I met my new class and was absolutely thrilled with the third-graders who walked through my doors.
After about a month of teaching I just wasn’t myself. I had developed anxiety and panic attacks. This was not good for everyone and I let my principal know that I would need to take a medical retirement.
I was devastated about not teaching. Now I had to figure out how to live a purposeful life while being a wife and mother. It was a hard time, but I have always been a fighter. How could I wake up in the morning, get my kids to school and then find joy and contentment?
After much soul searching I decided to enroll at Edmonds Community College and get a baking certificate. I could always bake and I loved to entertain. At one point during counseling I was asked, “What is your ultimate dream job?” I responded by saying, “Having a bed & breakfast in Costa Rica.”
Well, I have to admit the bakery’s view does meet the water requirement. Also the 1920s cottage I restored has a lot of the charm of a B&B, too.
Mukilteo is such a charming city by the bay. There are no local bakeries and I thought I may have hit the perfect niche. Plus baking has always brought me joy.
Were you ever tempted to change your mind?
Oh yes! The build-out process was very challenging and delayed heavily. There were many mis-quotes and “so sorries” along the way. But I had to see my dream through.
Who alive or in history would you most like to have a glass of wine with?
Anne Frank. Her quote that, “People are really good at heart” has been a driving force throughout my life. I would have to have that glass with her in Europe, though.
What do you want people to know about bakeries?
A misconception about bakeries is that you start and bake every-thing the night before. Baking is a process and many steps can be planned so that each day fresh products are made and my baker wasn’t there all night.
How do you control yourself from eating everything?
Easy. I can’t ever sit down to eat. I do have to do quality checks though. A perk of being at a bakery.
What is your biggest worry?
Will this really work? The restaurant business is fickle. I just have to keep my dream alive and believe I spent my money wisely.
Who has helped you along this journey to opening the bakery?
My husband, kids, chefs and friends have made this bakery possible. Fred Baxter helped me through the design, building process and the city of Mukilteo permitting process. Dale Woodard of Olympic General Contractors brought a 1920s cottage to a fully functioning bakery.
What’s your working dress style?
Today I am dressed as a business owner. A comfortable dress that is cool for all of my running around. I do have my chef coat in my office upstairs always on hand. Some days I am in my Sydney Bakery T-shirt ready for cinnamon rolls and sticky buns.
People would be shocked to know …
That I have traveled to every continent except Antarctica. I have also scuba-dived and ziplined along the way.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Being a news junkie and crime show watcher.
What are three items in your fridge at home?
Cheese, milk and eggs. I know I can always make something for my kids with those.
— Andrea Brown, Herald writer
The Chat is a weekly casual conversation with ordinary questions put to local extraordinary people. Do you know someone we should get to know better? Send suggestions to abrown@heraldnet.com or call 425-339-3443.
The Sydney Bakery & Wine Bar
613 Fifth St., Mukilteo; 425-374-8297; www.mukilteobakery.com.
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