Sweet Dreams Bakery, George Hudson Street, in award bid

Sweet Dreams Bakery, in George Hudson Street, has been nominated by Press readers for our Best Bakery competition – celebrating the top businesses in the city.

Readers can vote for the Best Bakery 2024 by picking up copies of The Press newspaper until Saturday, September 14, with the winner set to be announced the week of Monday, September 23.

Mara Cioineag opened the business with her husband Dainius Laurusevicius who she met while working at a restaurant in London.

Mara Cioineag and Dainius Laurusevicius, owners of Sweet Dreams Bakery (Image: Supplied)

They started out during the lockdown of 2020 as a small business run from the home kitchen with deliveries being made via Just Eat.

But it was their dream to open a bakery, Mara said, and they hail opening one as an “achievement in itself”.

Sweet Dreams Bakery in George Hudson Street (Image: Supplied)

All food is baked at the on-site kitchen, which is in the basement of the George Hudson Street premises.

This includes cupcakes, which come in 12 flavours; brownies; cookies, pain au chocolats; cinnamon buns; and sandwiches.

At the business you will also find unusual treats like Dubai chocolate – chocolate bars stuffed with pistachios – which have gone viral online.

Cupcakes at Sweet Dreams Bakery in George Hudson Street (Image: Supplied)

“Being only the two of us sometimes makes it challenging to run a bakery, especially while juggling a two-year-old,” explained Mara. “But we are definitely trying our best by working early mornings ant late nights to make this happen.”

She developed her love of baking which watching her grandma at home preparing “lots of sweet things”.

Treats for sale at Sweet Dreams Bakery in George Hudson Street (Image: Supplied)

Opening bakery was 'dream', says owner

After Sweet Dreams was revealed as a nominee for The Press Best Bakery competition, Mara said: “First of all, we would like to humbly thank our customers for continuing to support us and whoever nominated us to be York's best bakery, as that is already an achievement in itself for us only being open for little over two months.

“Being able to open a bakery in York was always our dream and now that we are here it almost feels unreal to be able to put a smile on our customers face after they try our bakes.

“Good luck to all the bakeries and may the best one win.”

Recommended reading:

• These are the ten best bakeries in York, according to Press readers
• Meet the woman behind a business selling sausage rolls ‘people are addicted to’
• ‘We don’t want to be mediocre’: how this York bakery became one of the city’s best

After nominations opened, Nigel Burton, editor of The Press, said: “Bakeries play an important role in York’s community. From freshly baked loaves in the morning to slices of cake in the afternoon, they brighten up our days.

“The Press wants to celebrate the people behind these businesses, who work hard to keep them here.

Treats for sale at Sweet Dreams Bakery in George Hudson Street (Image: Supplied)

“That’s why we’re launching this competition to recognise the best of the best.

“Over the coming weeks we’ll bring you updates on the bakeries in our competition, so keep an eye out and see if your favourite is featured.”