Located in old Kapaa town, Buttery offers patrons something tasty, something cute and something different from other cafes on the island. “We want everyone who comes in (to) feel comfortable and feel like family,” said Jade Brooks, co-owner of Buttery.
Located in old Kapaa town, Buttery offers patrons something tasty, something cute and something different from other cafes on the island.
“We want everyone who comes in (to) feel comfortable and feel like family,” said Jade Brooks, co-owner of Buttery.
Inside, the windows are decorated with pink curtains, the walls are lined with art exclusive to Buttery and the music is themed to match the European atmosphere Buttery conveys.
Initially, I thought (like many others) Buttery was named because of butter. Butter is a main ingredient in baking, so I thought it made sense. I asked owners Jade Brooks and Smazana “Biba” Velickovic about the name. They looked at each other, and Velickovic said to Jade, “Tell ‘em the story — it’ll be funny.”
“The name ‘buttery’ comes from a group of my friends from California,” Brooks said. “If they thought a girl was attractive or pretty, they would say, ‘Wow, she’s buttery.’ When I came up for the name, I thought it was perfect because we typically use a lot of butter in European cuisine and because of the story — how (my friends) referred to everything (as) pretty.”
The desserts and pastries created at Buttery are “buttery,” for sure. All the recipes for the desserts and pastries are from Velickovic, Brooks and patrons, who gave suggestions.
“A lot of the things, Jade and I created on our own,” Velickovic said. “We just kind of blend it depending on how we feel. And people come up to us with things they want to see and we do it, and it’s fun to create that relationship.”
Velickovic started baking in 1993. She found out later, while working for a marketing company, that her scones would sell like wildfire.
“I was working in this company in L.A., and this one guy and I used to go to building to building to sell my scones,” Velickovic said. “People at my office started buying them, and next thing you know it, two years later, I was in culinary school. It wasn’t until we decided to do this that that part of my life came back to me.”
If you frequented the 1st Satuday event in Kapaa, then you know Brooks and her sandwiches. Two years ago, at Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe, Brooks discovered some books that would change her life.
“I went and found the most incredible, old, vintage (cuisine) books,” Brooks said. “I mean, crazy thick and I taught myself. That began my whole inspiration to set up during art walk, and when we opened Buttery, I knew I wanted to do desserts.”
Now to the ono part. Jade and Velickovic prepared three items for TGIFR!DAY — the Caramel Apple Buckle, the Strata and the Affogato.
“The Caramel Apple Buckle is our French version of apple pie,” Velickovic said. “It’s 15 layers of pate sucree, our buttery caramel and fresh apples. They are made in tall molds.”
Next was the Starta, a savory croissant soaked in cheese and egg custard.
“There’s roasted peppers, tomatoes, wild mushrooms and a homemade basil and arugula that goes on top,” Brooks said.
The last item is an Italian dessert called Affogato. It consists of coconut gelato topped with cinnamon sugar croutons. A shot of espresso is poured over it, creating an onolicious treat that gives consumers a spike of high-quality caffeine.
If you’re looking for a cafe that is welcoming and truly unique to Kauai, you should definitely visit Velickovic and Brooks at the Buttery.
Where: Roxy Square at 4-1345 Kuhio Highway, Suite B-1 in Kapaa
When: Open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
