Meet Monica…

Hey friends, my name is Monica (she/her) and I am a first-gen latinx baker. My interest in the culinary world stemmed from watching shows like Cake Boss on TLC and cooking competitions such as Chopped on The Food Network. My love for baking didn’t necessarily begin “from scratch” but it did begin at home in the kitchen with my parents. You see, my family wasn’t the wealthiest nor did we indulge in routine desserts after dinner but, when we would want to splurge on a little “sweet treat”, my dad would either make things such as sugar cookies or my mom would buy a Betty Crocker Devil’s Food Cake Mix. I never had much of a sweet tooth, but I did enjoy the process of making something from scratch that could be enjoyed by others. As I grew older, the reality of life began to weigh on me. I was a first-generation daughter of immigrant parents and college was pretty much the only option for me to succeed in life. 

Everyday felt like a constant struggle for me and by the time I was a senior in high school I had no life aspirations, and I was feeling drowned under the pressure of finding a career path. Baking became something I could use as an outlet for my stress, and sharing my creations with other people brought me the joy I felt was missing in my life. Luckily, my dad had seen this turmoil I was experiencing and decided to surprise me by driving me to The Culinary Institute of America for a tour. It was at that moment that I realized not only was this the perfect career path for me, but so many people I had grown up watching and admiring like Anthony Bourdain or Duff Goldman were some of the alumni of this very Institute. Once the campus tour was over, I never looked back and decided baking and pastry arts were my destiny.

After I graduated, I remained in Santa Rosa where I began working at local bakeries. I experienced many ups and just as many downs but no matter what, I always told myself that everything is to be taken as a lesson in this industry. I am coming up on six years since I’ve graduated, and I feel like it's time to create my own name and bring a piece of myself to my community by sharing my version of nostalgic flavors and treats to your doorstep.