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New bakery and cafe opens on Sanibel

3 min read
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Adam Walling, Ginny Wagner, Kara Sarros and Jennifer Cheney. ASHLEY GOODMAN
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Freshly baked raspberry-filled doughnuts. ASHLEY GOODMAN

After eight months of planning, Ginny Wagner opened Sanibel’s newest bakery and cafe last Wednesday.

Totally Baked, at 2407 Periwinkle Way, will offer homemade cakes, doughnuts, cupcakes, cookies, candies, biscuits and freshly baked bread. Along with offering breakfast, Wagner and staff will also serve a lunch menu which consists of bone ham, turkey and roast beef sandwiches served with organic salad and homemade potato chips. Wagner will have vegetarian and gluten free options as well.

Before moving to Florida five years ago, she previously owned a bakery in a beach town similar to Sanibel in Virginia.

“Ever since I was a little girl, I would bake. Sanibel is my home, so what better place than to do it here? The town is so quaint here, it reminds me of my childhood growing up in Colonial Beach, Virginia,” Wagner said.

She said that she inherited the baking gene from her grandmother who was a pastry chef in London over 100 years ago.

“I found her certificate from 1892 right before opening this bakery, so I hung it up. I’m hoping she’s going to have a little bit in me as I bake,” she said.

Wagner is hoping to have most of the menu items available by next week. She also noted that her menu will constantly change.

“I have so many recipes to bring out that I remember making as a kid. I can’t wait to introduce it here. We’re trying to do very unique foods that you can get locally. We’ll just introduce them slowly. We’re going to master a few things at a time,” she said.

One unique item that is on the menu right now is a lunch sandwich that consists of candied duck bacon and cheese on a panini made with doughnut dough. Another interesting fact about Wagner’s bakery is that all the bags, cups, lids and straws are biodegradable.

For the holidays, Wagner will be baking special treats such as cake pops, snow globe cookies, chocolate covered pretzels and Frosty the Snow Man cupcakes. Italian hot cocoa and coffee will be available as well.

The coffee, which is made by San Giorgio, is freshly grounded with just a push of a button.

“It’s got a great flavor. The cafe mocha doesn’t need any sugar in it, I just drink it straight,” Wagner said.

She said she has received a lot of help from residents in the community along the way, especially from Richard and Mead Johnson, the owners of Bailey’s General Store where she previously worked.

“I’d like to thank Richard and Mead for giving me the opportunity of four years of baking with them. I’m ever so grateful for that. I enjoyed working there and meeting all the people that I now know,” Wagner said.

Totally Baked is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.