Chocolate Velvet is a family-run bakery and cake shop on Nayland Road in Stoke, Nelson, owned by Navi and Put, who took the business over three years ago. Between them they bring a combined 20 years in the food industry, three kids, and a connection to the Nelson community stretching back 30 years — along with what they describe simply as a passion for good food. Everything is baked from scratch using the best local and national ingredients.
The cabinets are restocked with fresh daily cakes in many flavours, alongside homemade pies in 17 unique flavours, slices, muffins, friands, biscuits and cupcakes. Lunch is covered too, with sandwiches, rolls and hot food, and there is a dessert range of cheesecakes, tarts and pies. For anyone caught short, the shop keeps a range of decorated whole cakes on hand for those on the run or needing a last-minute cake, plus cake decorations and candles.
Since 2004 Chocolate Velvet has been creating wedding cakes and birthday cakes for customers around Nelson, along with corporate, anniversary and other celebration cakes — custom cakes and catering for any occasion, big or small. Wedding cake consultations are by appointment, so call ahead. The shop also caters for work shouts, business lunches and meetings, with delivery to your workplace. Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm, closed weekends.
On Nayland Road in Stoke, Chocolate Velvet is a family-run bakery and cake shop that has been creating cakes for Nelson since 2004. The shop is owned by Navi and Put, who took over three years ago bringing a combined 20 years of food industry experience, three kids, and what they describe simply as a passion for good food. Their focus is fresh, delicious treats — baked from scratch with the best local and national ingredients.
Navi and Put's love for serving the Nelson community goes back 30 years, and that local focus shapes how the shop works. The cabinets are filled with fresh daily cakes, and the range goes well beyond cake: slices, muffins, friands, biscuits, cupcakes, sandwiches, rolls and hot food all share the shelves. Alongside the day-to-day baking, the team still takes orders for custom cakes and catering, so the kitchen is as busy with made-to-order work as it is with the daily lineup. Whether you want a quick lunch or a showpiece centrepiece, the same hands are behind both.
Homemade pies are a headline act, made in 17 unique flavours. Around them sits fresh daily cake in many flavours to choose from, plus slices, muffins, friands, biscuits and cupcakes. Lunch is sorted with sandwiches, rolls and hot food, and anyone with a sweet tooth can dig into a great range of cheesecakes, tarts and pies. Caught without a cake? The shop keeps a range of decorated whole cakes on hand for those on the run or needing a last-minute solution, and sells cake decorations and candles for home bakers too.
Custom cakes are where Chocolate Velvet's reputation has been built. Since 2004 the team has been creating wedding cakes and birthday cakes for customers across the Nelson area, along with corporate cakes, anniversary cakes and other celebration cakes. Orders are taken for any occasion, big or small.
Wedding cakes get particular care — the team prefers to take the time to sit and talk through the design with you, so they ask that you call first and arrange an appointment. The effort shows in the feedback. "Just wanted to say a huge thank you to all involved in making my beautiful wedding cake," wrote Mel and Jas after their big day. "My family and friends as well as ourselves were overwhelmed. We were extremely pleased with your top service."
Beyond the counter, Chocolate Velvet caters for work shouts, business lunches and meetings, covering morning teas, lunches and afternoon teas. Better still, they can deliver to your workplace at a time that suits — a handy option for offices around Stoke and wider Nelson planning a meeting or treating the team.
Chocolate Velvet is at 435 Nayland Road, Stoke, and opens Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm, closing on Saturdays and Sundays. Pop in for a pie and something sweet, call 03 538 0515 to talk about a custom cake, or email enquiries@chocolatevelvet.co.nz. You can also keep up with the shop on Facebook and Twitter. As the team puts it: we look forward to seeing you.