It's been less than a year since Jenna Fidanza opened Caffé Delish, her Italian-inspired café next to the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC).
But plans are already in the works to expand east and over the Pitt River Bridge, where Fidanza has signed a lease for space in Pitt Meadows.
And what makes this new establishment different from her Port Coquitlam community café is that it will be drive-thru, if she can get approval from the city.
First gluten free drive-thru café
Imagine driving up to the window of Caffé Delish in Pitt Meadows and a specially trained team member takes your order for a warm cinnamon bun, a brownie or a tasty homemade breakfast sandwich and a specialty coffee to help you start your day.
That's the hope, said Fidanza, who announced via social media that she is opening another café at 12528 Harris Rd.
"We are working on being the first ever gluten free café with a drive-thru," she announced.
While other businesses are dealing with inflation and economic challenges, Fidanza is excited to expand, she said.
"We saw a lot of success off the bat with the [PoCo] café, and a lot of people are asking us to open up in other cities," said Fidanza.
Driving by the former bead shop — and seeing the fabulous layout that includes seating for 36 plus outdoor space and a garage-style door — Fidanza was hooked.
Current designs for the new café include the drive-thru, but there is plenty of opportunity to provide customers with a great experience even with out it, she said.
The space is large enough, for example, for the new Caffé Delish to have open mic nights, performers and special events.
Desserts, Italian coffee
But the key ingredient of success will be the food, baked on site, and specialty coffees, which Fidanza creates herself with a lot of ingenuity and pride.
The PoCo café, located at Unit 4110–2180 Kelly Ave. in Montrose Square, has a strong line-up of specialty coffees, and baked goods.
They will likely also be available at the sister café in Pitt Meadows, including The Boss Babe, which is three shots of espresso over ice with locally made oat milk, vanilla, with sweet cream on top and a dash of cinnamon.
Breakfast sandwiches are also popular, she said, and Caffé Delish is developing a vegan version of the breakfast bagel, with a vegan "egg."
Other treats include chocolate cream puffs, salted caramel brownies, S'mores, honey crullers, cinnamon fritters, mini-doughnuts and vegan red velvet cupcakes.
Fidanza started her popular gluten free bakery nearly a decade years ago, and hasn't looked back, as she brings her gluten free treats to the masses.
The bakery, located at Unit 203 – 1730 Coast Meridian Rd., is also a popular spot for picking up desserts to take home.
"Our food looks and tastes better than a lot of gluten food," said Fidanza.
"It happens to be gluten free,[but] it's just a good product regardless."
The new Pitt Meadows Caffé Delish is set to open in spring 2023.
