Apollo 13's Danish Pastry in Lavinio, Rome, a breakfast treat from the historic pastry shop on the coast
The Danish pastry at Apollo 13 in Lavinio, Rome. Winter or summer, anyone on the Roman coast craving something sweet, especially in Lavinio, can't miss a croissant or pastry at Apollo 13, a historic local pastry shop.
Sonia Bagliacchi, how did this passion for Danish pastry begin? "From my grandfather, originally from Castellammare di Stabia, who during the war had a pastry shop in Rome, La Rinascita, on Via Giulia. The Danish pastry recipe comes from him."
What ingredients do you use to make your Danish pastries? "The ingredients that set us apart are definitely vegetable margarine, the absence of butter and lard, the use of fresh, unpasteurized eggs, and of course the use of flour, sugar, yeast, and flavorings. This base is the same for all croissants, then for the Danish pastries we add sliced Bari almonds; typical Australian raisins with small grains (different from the Turkish ones, which are cheaper); or we also offer a variation for those who aren't big fans of raisins: dark chocolate chips. The dough rises for 12-13 hours."
For production, machinery or labor? "In my grandfather's old bakery, given the lack of machinery, production was definitely slower. Now, as you can see from the irregularly shaped Danish pastries (and wide molds), we provide labor but also rely on machinery."
Who's your target audience? Do you work with loyal customers or do you also target a younger clientele? "Initially, our clientele was predominantly adults, but as time goes by, we're seeing more and more young people. Let's say the target audience is 18 and up."
What are the prices? "The price of a Danish pastry, a bombe, and a doughnut, which are truly extra-large, is €1.30, while a croissant is €1."
Do you offer alternatives for those with allergies? "For celiacs, we offer gluten-free croissants, while for those with other allergies, we try to accommodate our customers as much as possible by offering a few alternatives. For example, we also offer vegan croissants."
What are your future goals? "Our future goal is to expand and reach Rome with delivery. We're thinking of using Amazon because it covers a larger area. Obviously, the delivery would include Danish pastries and biscuits, not cream-filled pastries like bombs or donuts."
Pasticceria Apollo 13, Via Ardeatina 600, Anzio (RM). Tel: 069821997 – Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6am-11pm. Facebook page.
