Beshara Taouk’s dream was to give Melbourne an authentic, high-quality Lebanese bakery experience.
Beshara arrived in Melbourne from Lebanon in 1958 and had become a successful businessman in his new homeland over the decades. His family hailed from Bsharri, a town in the mountainous north of Lebanon located in the shadows of the mighty Cedars of God forest. The cedar tree is an ancient symbol of Lebanon which represents longevity and strength. In this region, breadmaking traditions reach back hundreds of years.
After all his years in Australia, Beshara had still pined for the bread of his childhood. The smell, the texture, the taste. There were other Lebanese bakeries in Melbourne. But none lived up to his memories.
Luckily for Melburnians, he had a secret dough recipe that had been in the family for years. Armed with his secret recipe, he opened Cedar Bakery in 1998 at our High St, Preston location.
Word soon got around. More than two decades on, Cedar’s is an institution in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. The place to go for Melbourne’s finest Lebanese bakery goods.
In 2013, Beshara’s son George Taouk and John-Paul Saad took over. The pair proceeded to update the look of the venue while ensuring it maintained its welcoming atmosphere. Despite suffering a severe setback in 2014 when a fire ripped through the premises, George and John-Paul pressed ahead.
In 2015, they completed renovations, creating a modern space with a cafe, bakery and grocery store all rolled into one. It kept the old bakery’s warmth while incorporating an airy, light-filled modern ambience.
In line with Melbourne’s coffee culture, George and John-Paul have also ensured Cedar’s coffee is every bit as exceptional as our pastries and pizzas. At Cedar’s, we have a state-of-the-art coffee machine, expertly trained baristas and beans supplied by Industry Beans, Melbourne’s boutique specialty coffee roasters.
In 2020, we opened our first new store at the Watergardens Shopping Centre in Taylors Lakes. The new store carries the traditions of the Preston store while establishing its own unique identity. We’re very excited about this venture and the opportunity to share Melbourne’s best Lebanese bakery products with a new community.
What started as Beshara Taouk’s desire to share his love of authentic Lebanese bread has become Melbourne’s most popular Lebanese bakery. At Cedar’s, we proudly hold true to our traditions while always looking forward and embracing new opportunities. We share our love of food and extend our hospitality to all who come through our doors.