NORWAY — When Katherine Olinkiewicz realized her dream of running her own bakery last month she knew that it would include baking lots of whoopie pies, among the many other sweet treats she is known for.
Katherine Olinkiewicz (left) and Nicole Groves of Katherine’s Bakery and Cafe in Norway, producing 3,200 whoopie pies with a smile. Supplied photo
She opened Katherine’s Bakery & Café on Sept. 1 at 238 Main St., joining the tradition of independent specialty shops that make downtown Norway an Oxford Hills destination.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she would bake and deliver 3,200 whoopie pies for one standalone order. But it happened, and she pulled it off this week. But not without an obstacle or two to overcome.
“A woman came in one day and asked if she could place an order,” told the Advertiser Democrat in an email statement. “She said she lived in Oxford and was hoping I could make a large bulk order in a short amount of time.”
Three thousand, two hundred whoopie pies equals 6,400 round cakes, baked on cookie sheets. Katherine’s Bakery & Café has a very small kitchen.
“We could only bake 36 halves in an oven at one time, and when we started the whoopies, my bottom oven stopped working,” she said. “It took 45 man hours. I have a great crew! We all work fantastic together, but with such a short amount of time and an oven down, I did have to reach out to two other friends to help.”
With five people each logging 45 hours of prep, baking and finishing the order, the vision of what 3,200 whoopie pies looks like is hard to picture. Olinkiewicz had this reference to make it clear.
It takes two van loads to deliver 3,200 whoopie pies, as Katherine Olinkiewicz (bottom right) and her bakery employees found out. Also pictured from left: Tatyanna Thongsavanh, Nicole Groves and Justin Barton (rear). Supplied photo
“I rented a U-Haul van,” she wrote after working through the weekend. “I had to make two deliveries. We finished on Sunday to make a delivery on Monday. We will complete the whole 3,200 order as of Tuesday night, and deliver everything Wednesday.
Olinkiewicz declined to confirm the name of the customer and business but expressed her gratitude for such a windfall of whoopie pies.
“When opening my dream I never imaged getting an order so massive,” she said. “Nor did I imagine my product reaching out to so many people. I’m beyond appreciative and happy they found my little store.
“Days off don’t come often but my staff will get their days off very soon. As for me? Hopefully [next] Sunday!”
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