Meet the Bakers: The incredible Chef Rosie

We thought it would be fun for you to know a little about us so we are interviewing each other.
Throughout the post, please enjoy some of the yummies that Rosie has created!

Q: What inspired you to start baking?

A: From when I was a little girl, my aunt and my mom always made a big fuss over the holidays and birthdays. Baking was something special, holiday cookies were a family event. Mom and my Aunt Ida would teach me, and then the three of us would decorate. There was never any criticizing my techniques or saying I couldn’t do something. Their brother, my Uncle Frank always would volunteer to be the taste tester…and sometimes we’d have to chase him out of the kitchen, to guarantee we’d have cookies for the holiday. So from when I was little, I loved baking, the sense of love and pride to give something that I made with my own two hands to someone I cared about. In regard to doing this ‘baking thing’ as a career, six years ago I suffered a traumatic injury, and decided to go back to school to fill up the hours of my day. A local college offered a culinary program, and I took it just for fun. I realized how much I still loved baking, and decided to turn it in to a career. In 2018 I graduated with my degree in Baking and Pastry Specialization, and have began my quest to Save The World One Baked Treat at a Time, working Farmers Markets, Pop-Up Events, and Baking To Order.

Q: What particular bake are you most proud of?

A: That’s a tough one. Prior to doing this as my business, I would say it was a cake I made for my mom’s birthday. She loves spicy stuff and chocolate. So I made her a tiered chocolate cake with chocolate fondant, and the top tier of the cake I added cayenne pepper. I decorated it with gold luster dust and stars.

Professionally, I’d say the airbrushed galaxy cake or my watercolor cakes. Or themed cakes that my customers request for special occasions.

Q: What has been your most epic baking fail?

A: *Laughing at the memory*. Again, this was before I had become a professional. But I had made a tiered cake for a group I had belonged to. I didn’t know about using dowels or cake boards to stabilize the tiers. I just thought you staked the cake, and it sat pretty. I had to transport this cake about 30 minutes from the house, and my mom sat in the back seat holding it. The entire ride she kept saying ‘the cakes fine, just keep driving.’ Well by the time we got to the house where the party was, the tiers of the cake had slipped and slid, and looked like a topsy-turvy cake. ironically years later I ran in to Chef Duff Goldman and shared my story of this with him. He laughed and gave me a hug…and told me not to feel bad. That he’s had those moments himself, even doing this professionally. I always keep that in my mind…and I will always be thankful that Chef Duff turned an embarrassing moment in to a funny story to share.

Q: What is your baking dream goal?

A: My dream is to one day have a store front. I keep going back and forth between envisioning it strictly as a bakery with tables, chairs and coffee or a small café with some food items and of course all the baked items I can whip up.

Q: What is your favorite thing to bake?

A: I love to bake anything for my mom and my husband…. whatever they want I will attempt it. My mom loves a basic chocolate chip cookie which frustrates me as I think ‘really? you just want a chocolate chip cookie?’ But I love making Christmas cookies with her which one is an Italian Knot Cookie, the recipe being in our family for decades. No matter what year, how many cookie exchanges we do…that’s my mom’s go to…and I love making them with her. But on a professional level, I my favorite thing to bake is either cupcake cakes in the shape of a customers request…or even a fancy pastry or cake, like tiramisu cake…it is tests my skills and puts my degree to true use.

Coming up next: Meet Miss Michelle