Sweet Arts Cafe opens in Winter Garden

WINTER GARDEN — The climate in Florida is nearly the opposite of the French Alps, where Franck Delorme grew up. But after traveling the globe and preparing culinary creations in some of the world’s finest restaurants, he landed in Winter Garden, and he has finally followed his dream of opening his own cafe.

His shop, Sweet Arts Cafe, opened in early May at the corner of Stoneybrook West Parkway and Avalon Road.

Customers with a sweet tooth are able to select from a display of colorful macaroons, fruit-filled tarts, fluffy chocolate croissants and more. There are also sandwiches, salads and quiches for breakfast and lunch. And those in need of a caffeine fix won’t be disappointed: They can order a hand-crafted latte, cappuccino or straight-up espresso.

One of the unique characteristics of Sweet Arts Cafe is that Delorme arrives early each morning to bake the pastries, breads and quiches from scratch. As a young man, he studied culinary arts in France, and he has never lost his passion for pure quality.

“I think people need to go back and master the basics (of baking),” he said. “This is important to me.”

Delorme left home at a young age, looking for opportunities to advance his culinary skills. He worked all over Europe as a baker and learned English while working in England. Many of his years were spent in the kitchens of cruise ships.

There was even a time when he worked at a five-star hotel and prepared plates for Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth.

“I liked being able to travel,” Delorme said. “You meet all kinds of people, also.”

After working on a cruise ship out of Miami, Delorme decided to settle in 1988 in Florida. One of the challenges at first was mastering the technique of baking bread in the Florida climate. The humidity made it difficult, but on the other extreme, so did air conditioning.

“We had to bake from 5 p.m., when it wasn’t so hot— it was still hot, but not as much — all night to 5 in the morning,” Delorme said.

With his special oven at Sweet Arts Café, Delorme doesn’t have to worry about the climate-related troubles he used to face.

His baked goods and desserts appeal to all of the senses.

“It’s not always just the look; looks can be deceiving sometimes,” he said. 

But his pastries are sure to pass the taste test.

With schools, a dance studio and a martial arts studio near Sweet Arts Cafe, Delorme expects many of his customers to be children and their families. He has developed a menu he thinks will appeal to all ages.

Contact Catherine Sinclair at [email protected].

Sweet Arts Cafe

ADDRESS: 15497 Stoneybrook West Parkway, Winter Garden

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

PHONE: (407) 656-1006