Albin Leonard Lawang is the youngest of three brothers who together own Pecks Road Cafe in Caroline Springs, which recently won the Mayoral Achievement Award at the Melton Business Excellence Awards. He spoke to Star Weekly about his connection to the area.
Tell us a bit about you and what you do?
I’ve been a chef for 8 years, working at restaurants and cafes such as Kettle black, Higher Ground, and Hellenic Republic to name a few. Prior to my hospitality career I was a personal trainer.
What’s your connection to Melton?
I was born and raised in Melbourne’s west, with Melton being a close neighbour. I’ve always had an appreciation for the community that raised us. We recently had the amazing honour of receiving the Mayoral Achievement Award at the 2023 Melton Business Excellence awards of which I am super proud.
Tell us about Pecks Road?
Pecks Road is a family-owned café that specialises in artisan doughnuts and deli sandwiches. Our passionate team of artisans take pride in their work, meticulously handcrafting each item with love, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to quality. We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation, and strive to expand our knowledge, refine our skills, and stay at the forefront of culinary trends.
When did it open and how has the experience been so far?
My brothers and I started Pecks Road in the midst of the pandemic in 2020. At the time, I was recently made redundant from a head chef position, but I wanted to continue to serve the community. We started as a home delivery business on weekends, utilising the kitchen of our good friends over at St. Burgs, Caroline Springs, during their closed hours. We eventually expanded to a commercial kitchen in North Melbourne in 2021. Fast forward to January 2022 we opened our very first store in Caroline Springs, all thanks to the continuous love and support from communities all across Melbourne. It’s been an incredible experience so far, just to be able to connect with the locals and serve them delectable treats, 7 days a week!
What do you like about where you live?
Growing up in the west has given me a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and sense of community. Even with so many different backgrounds, an abundance of life experiences, languages, beliefs and cuisines – I’ve found that food is the universal love language that everyone understands and that brings people together.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
We could see a little improvement in littering and pollution. I always advocate for procedures making us a cleaner and eco-friendly environment. It’s great seeing things such as 10c container deposit sites starting to pop up around our area.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
So many to choose from, but I have to give a shout out to St.Burgs Caroline Springs and their exclusive Filipino-inspired menu.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
I once cooked for Oprah Winfrey alongside George Columbaris for an exclusive event she held in Melbourne.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Just a massive thank you for all the support we’ve received since we started Pecks Road. We hope to create a space where families, friends and neighbours can come together to have meaningful experiences and lasting memories at our shop. We hope to serve you soon!
