Lourdes Villalobos said one thing stood out among the rest for her
Lourdes Villalobos, from Lou & Mart Cake with Heart, now lives in Wallasey (Image: Liverpool ECHO)
A mum was shocked by one thing when she moved over 1,000 miles to the Wirral. Lourdes Villalobos, originally from the capital of Peru, came to Wallasey for love after meeting her husband, Martin.
The 49-year-old initially relocated to Barcelona with her son, Jose, in search of new opportunities. There, she met Martin, a pastry chef with a deep passion for cooking and baking.
Their love “blossomed in the vibrant streets” of the Spanish city, leading to marriage and a shared dream. However, their journey to the UK was not immediate.
Lourdes and her now 25-year-old son had to navigate a long visa process before finally reuniting with Martin in the UK. When Lourdes eventually settled in Merseyside, she said one thing stood out to her.
The mum-of-one told the ECHO: “It’s very different, for me. Barcelona is a big city, so moving here was a complete change. I find the Wirral very quiet. It’s small in comparison, but I love living here. I am very used to it, and the people are lovely.
“I always miss my friends and family, but the people are so nice and helpful. The food here is completely different from anything I have known before, and it was a big change for me.
Lourdes Villalobos from Lou & Mart Cake with Heart with her Spanish Basque cheesecake.(Image: Colin Lane)
“In Peru, we make everything from scratch. Everything is homemade. It’s so easy to find places with desserts and main meals that are all homemade when you go out. Everything is fresh. It’s not the same here in the UK. There’s lots of mass production and frozen options.”
During their time abroad, the couple were obsessed with the Spanish Basque cheesecake, a dessert known for its rich, creamy texture and caramelised top. Their travels across Spain introduced them to different variations of this classic treat.
Inspired by their experiences, the two decided to recreate the cheesecake in their kitchen. Lourdes said with its velvety texture, the dessert became an instant hit among friends and family.
Lourdes Villalobos with some of her best sellers from her cheesecake business(Image: Colin Lane)
Encouraged by the “overwhelming response”, the couple launched Lou&Mart Cake with Heart. What started as a small home-based business in Wirral has now expanded to supply both individual customers and wholesale clients in the North West and beyond.
Their cheesecakes are delivered nationwide. Some of the flavours available are lotus biscoff, blueberry jam, Baileys, and chocolate ganache.
Lourdes, who has masters degree of science in digital marketing from Liverpool John Moores University, said: “For us, it is not just about selling cheesecakes; it’s about sharing a love story. I love being able to bring a slice of back home here to the Wirral.”