New Italian bakery is serving up roasted focaccia, bomboloni, and authentic recipes

MIDDLEBORO – Sweet Italian delicacies have planted their roots on Center Street in Middleboro. Italian Gem Café is baking up family recipes that owner Jessica Gemma learned as a child when she frequented Frosinone, a town south of Rome.

Foodies can try the baker's favorites including pistachio white chocolate cookies, classic bomboloni, and roasted focaccia bread made from scratch daily.

Gemma, a self-taught baker, TikTok food blogger, and cookbook author, has always been passionate about food and baking. She opened Italian Gem Café, located at 19 Center St., to bring her Italian culture to Middleboro as a second-generation Italian living in America.

“My parents are from Italy. I’m full Italian, I’ve spent my life traveling there, and I wanted people to know we are an Italian gem where you’ll find authentic recipes,” Gemma said.

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Italian Gem Café menu

The menu is inspired by baked goods and sweet treats from the town where her parents grew up.Even the flour is imported from Italy to keep the authentic flavor and rich culture alive.

Gemma was once a nurse but pursued her love for baking during COVID and gained a significant push from her husband to pursue her dreams.

Now, the self-taught baker lives her best life doing what she feels she was “meant to do” on this earth.The bakery offers a wide range of classic and non-traditional Italian desserts, focaccia panini in nine options, cappuccino, tea, espresso, homemade drip coffee, cold brews and much more.

Italian Gem Café opened less than a month ago, and while opening a business hasn’t been easy, Gemma knows her calling is baking.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Former nurse, TikTok food blogger opens Italian Gem Cafe in Middleboro