Brooke Bellamy, the founder of Brooki Bakehouse, celebrated the opening of her 12th store in Sydney's Barangaroo precinct on Friday. Despite a recent public dispute over recipe plagiarism with RecipeTin Eats founder Nagi Maehashi, hundreds of customers formed a long queue, with some expecting waits of up to two hours.
The new Barangaroo location is the bakery's second in Sydney, following its opening at Sydney Airport's T2 Domestic Terminal nine months prior. Customers expressed enthusiasm for the new CBD location, eager to try the bakery's popular cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and cakes.
The controversy arose in April 2025 when Maehashi publicly accused Bellamy of plagiarizing two recipes—caramel slice and baklava—for her cookbook, "Bake With Brooki." Bellamy denied the allegations, stating that the recipes were the result of years of personal baking experience. Penguin, the publisher of "Bake With Brooki," also supported Bellamy's claim that the recipes were original.
Bellamy addressed the fallout on "The Balance Theory Podcast," explaining her decision to remain silent rather than engage in a public dispute. She cited her husband's pragmatic perspective, describing the situation as "just business," as instrumental in helping her manage the emotional toll.
"I think you just have to decide… am I adding any value by adding noise? Or am I just adding noise?" Bellamy said, reflecting on her decision not to retaliate. She added that her husband's question about how she would want her children to view the situation later in life grounded her.
Brooki Bakehouse is planning further expansion, with a 13th store anticipated to open at Perth Airport. The Barangaroo opening saw Bellamy, who is pregnant with her third child, working alongside her staff to fulfill customer orders.