About US
Javier and Ellen
Wallflour Bake Shop was founded by Ellen Stavro and Javier Flores after fermenting in their minds for several years. True to the inspiration for the bakery name, they are introverted, wallflowers who are happiest baking in the solitude of their kitchen.
Ellen and Javier met while working at Runner and Stone, a small bakery in Brooklyn, in 2016. Ellen had previously begun her career by working in the pastry departments of the Michelin-starred restaurants of Marea and Eleven Madison Park in New York City. Javier started as an apprentice at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado, and later worked at the Wynn and Encore Resorts in Las Vegas. Together, they followed their passion for baking to San Francisco, a mecca of sorts for sourdough bread, where they both worked at Jane the Bakery.
Recent transplants, Ellen and Javier are now proud to call Hawaii home. They hope to bring their collective knowledge and love of food and baking to their new community, and hope you all enjoy!
Gary
Gary is our sourdough culture, and a vital member of Wallflour Bake Shop. He is a delicate mix of yeasts and bacteria that work together to leaven our breads. He’s a needy little guy that has to be fed twice a day and requires strict temperature control. He sometimes looks a little different depending on what we are using him for, but he is still always Gary: Liquid Gary, Stiff Gary, Tony Gary (specifically for panettone that we are working on). When the culture's population is at its peak, Gary is full of trapped microbial byproducts and has an intense fruity, alcoholic aroma. It is at this point, that we use Gary to give life to our breads and pastries. He is the heart and soul of the bakery. Without him, our products wouldn’t have the flavor, aroma, keeping qualities or digestibility that are associated with sourdough. He is our unsung hero.
Mentions
The New York Times
by Martha Cheng, November 28, 2024
Amanda & Felix Eats
HAWAII FOOD TOUR with @TabiEats ! || Kaka'ako Farmer's Market!
by Amanda Lee and Felix Ye, YouTube, July 1, 2022
Frolic Hawaii
My 9 Favorite Bakeries in Honolulu
by Martha Cheng, June 30, 2022
Fodor’s Travel
35 Ultimate Things to Do in Oahu, Hawaii
by Charlene Fang, May 25, 2022
Fodor’s Travel
The Best LGBTQ+ Friendly Spots in Hawaii, According to Hawaiians
by Marah Eakin, May 25
Frolic Hawaii
by Martha Cheng, January 10, 2022