News

Nisu Bakery serving up a slice of Finnish culture

Great story in the Mining Gazette about Nisu Bakery and Cafe in Hancock.

Irma Boyd’s Cardamom Pulla Braid won first place at the 2023 Houghton County Fair

HANCOCK — “Nisu” is a traditional sweet bread made with cardamom. It’s also the name of a new Finnish-style bakery in downtown Hancock. While you can get nisu bread there, the delicacy might not have originated in Finland, according to owner and Finnish immigrant Irma Boyd.

“It’s not a word that’s used in Finland,” Boyd said. “I wonder if it’s something that was made up here.”

Boyd has dreamed of owning a Finnish-style bakery for over 20 years. However, her husband Kevin was in the military for the last 33 years and the family moved too frequently to set up shop. Both of them have family ties in Hancock so when Kevin retired, this is where they came. (Coincidentally, Kevin’s side of the family once owned the hat shop where Milly’s Pizza is now.)

“My husband said, ‘The only way I’m going to Michigan is if we go to the Keweenaw,’” said Boyd. “Finally, we are getting rooted.”

Click here to read the full story

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