My first popup ever was a huge success. It was at the vintage store, Curios on Hawthorne. I decided on some of my most popular items: Lemon/Rosemary, Salted Caramel, and Chocolate Mint Cremes. Key Lime Bars, Guava Cream Cheese Empanadas, and Pandan Coconut Custard Cake. People started buying before my booth was completely setup, and…
Of all the specialty desserts I do, the first I tried baking were my Italian grandma’s sweet cheese pastries. I was obsessed with these as a kid. Light flaky pastry with a filling of cream cheese, ricotta and almond extract. She only made them for the holidays, so I would eat my body weight’s worth.…
It’s May 2020, and I just finished remodeling my kitchen. Quarantine is in place, creating the perfect conditions for a growing baking obsession. Croissants from Tartine Bakery’s cookbook were my first foray into pastry. Pretty soon I branched out to other forms, and then desserts. While excited that baking combined my love of food with…
The idea of FIKA germinated at the start of 2020. I was incredibly lucky to begin my kitchen remodel a week before lockdown. During quarantine I developed a huge interest in baking and desserts. Unable to take classes during the pandemic, I read anything I could get my hands on and tested tons of recipes,…