Boutique Bakery
Dessert First is a bakery and restaurant located at 350 Bay Street in Ottawa. The menu features custom buttercream cakes, all-day brunch, and weekend dinner. It is the kind of place that draws locals in for a birthday cake yet keeps them coming back for the cheesecake, the apple pie, and a sourdough bread pudding that exceeds all expectations.
The owner, Julia Gindra, is the heart of the operation. Essentially, the bakery reflects her exactly—precise, warm, and rooted in two countries at once. Because she is uncompromising on quality, every item on the menu serves as a testament to her professional background.
Interview
Occupation: Business Owner Location: Ottawa, Canada
Birthplace: South Africa
Pastry-Chef Julia Gindra
Julia Gindra was born in South Africa and moved to Canada at age 17. By that time, she had already been perfecting her cheesecake recipe for five years. This is not a casual detail; instead, it tells you everything about her commitment to the craft. While most twelve-year-olds are occupied with other things, Julia was already iterating on culinary formulas.
Before opening Dessert First, she spent over 12 years working in high-end kitchens across Canada. These included prestigious establishments like the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and the Fairmont Banff in the Rockies. In these environments, standards are non-negotiable and shortcuts are never tolerated. During those years, she learned from some of the best pastry chefs in the country. At the same time, she developed a culinary point of view that was entirely her own.
In 2017, her hard work was recognized nationally when she became a top-eight finalist in the Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship. This is one of the most competitive culinary awards in Canada, and she was the only female competitor to reach that level that year. Following this success, she opened her own bakery and has focused on her own vision ever since.
Dessert First Boutique Bakery
Julia bridges South Africa and Canada through her menu. Because every dish has a history, most of them cross at least one border. For example, Malva Pudding is one of her signatures. It is a beloved traditional South African comfort food that is rich, sticky, and deeply familiar.
In Ottawa, she relabeled it as sticky toffee pudding for locals who had never encountered the original. Consequently, they loved it without needing the cultural context. This proves that good food works across all borders when it is prepared properly.
The menu also features a Dutch-style apple pie with streusel topping. Because it uses local apples and aromatic spices, it makes immediate sense in an Ottawa winter. Her philosophy remains simple and non-negotiable: pure butter, premium Madagascar vanilla, and real ingredients throughout. Since she refuses to make substitutions, the quality remains consistent regardless of the cost. The cheesecake she has been refining since age 12 is still on the menu today, and after years of iterations, the results are evident.
The Craft
Julia’s approach to pastry is built on the same foundation as her approach to business: preparation and attention to detail. Although many people might not consciously notice these small decisions, everyone can taste the difference. In this way, baking is similar to photography or music. The small choices accumulate into a final product that either works completely or fails. Julia’s work consistently falls into the former category.
The custom cake program has built its own reputation in Ottawa. Since each cake is specific to the customer, no two designs are ever the same. The buttercream work is meticulous, and as a result, the bakery has drawn in clients from across the city and beyond.
The Bakery
Dessert First is designed to be casual and contemporary. It is warm enough for a family celebration, yet it remains relaxed enough for a solo Tuesday afternoon. Because the atmosphere is so inviting, people often stay longer than they originally planned. In a city like Ottawa, which has no shortage of dining options, this success is not an accident. Instead, it is the result of a chef who has spent her career thinking carefully about the dining experience.
For updates and a look at the cake work, follow on Instagram. Full menu and information at dessertfirst-ottawa.com.
