Early starts and eye-catching patisserie at new Sheffield deli

It’s 8am on a Friday, and he is eight hours in at 4eyespatisserie’s first venue on John Street, off Bramall Lane and very close to what will soon become Sheffield’s new Chinatown.

Since midnight he has been hard at work creating the colourful, innovatively flavoured pastries, cakes, macarons and much more that have earned he and partner Matthew Rhodes their following.

The two chefs met while studying at Sheffield College then went their separate ways, working in Liverpool, London, and Australia.

Two years ago they were reunited and the business began in Matt’s parents’ garage.

Soon they began to supply wholesale to cafes such as The Gatehouse in Kelham Island and La Coppola Deli on Oakbrook Road, and now their dream of having a deli has come to fruition.

“With wholesale you send the product out and that’s it, bar some interaction online”, said Rob as early morning customers looked over apple galette and fluffy meringues.

“It’s great to be able to talk to people because people are so interested in food now.”

Matt, fresh from deliveries as far away as Bawtry and Hassop, added: “It’s especially good for Rob on the creative side because he can do new things.

“These cakes, you couldn’t do them wholesale, especially with the way I drive!”

The deli offers savoury lunch options , and its shelves are stocked with home-made sauces, jams, granola and caramel, even butter.

Rob added: “A lot of delis buy things in and just sell them but we make everything - apart from the coffee - ourselves.”

And as for the name?

Both chefs wear glasses, and their ‘eye catching’ produce looks as good as it tastes.

The patisserie opens at 7am on Fridays and 9am on Saturdays.