Hey jtobin625- Thanks for your questions! I wasn't quite sure what to write. I went to a 4 year college for Advertising/Public Relations and graduated a little more than 2 years ago. As far as how much was spent.. well let's just say it wasn't cheap. I had scholarships and my parents had saved so I luckily do not have any student loans. We are middle class not super wealthy by any means. My grandfather has set up a fund in my name though that can be used toward school which would help pay for culinary schools. I would still need to save as much as possible to cover the rest as well as living expenses.
Why Europe? I studied abroad in France and absolutely fell in love with the culture, history, language and of course the food. The day we left I stopped by a patissere to pick up treats to enjoy when I got off the plane at home. I returned two years later and visited other parts of France. I've have been trying to go back ever since.
Why the food industry? It's a passion of mine. I grew up learning to cook from my mother. I had recipes for cookies and brownies memorized when I was 9. I would gasp in horrer if the babysitter accidently dropped egg shells in the batter. haha Why haven't I tried to get into the industry earlier? I guess growing up I was always pushed to go the traditional route of college then get a desk job. All through college I started baking more and more. I'm able to tell if what I am making is the right consistency, if I need to make tweaks, when something is ready to be taken out of the oven, etc. I find myself criticing different sweets that I try (in my head of course when they're from friends!). I feel as if I'm always learning whenever I try a new recipe or bring out an old one. I'll bake for hours and hours and lose track of time. I stayed up until 2am one time baking a 10 layer dolce de leche cake for my friend's birthday. I don't serve anything I think is inedible. I'd rather try the recipe again than put something in front of my friends and coworkers that doesn't look and taste it's best. My baked goods are known around the office. I send out an email and they are gone within 10 minutes. People ask when I'm opening a bakery. Exec has started paying me to make desserts for different company events. A coworker is leaving for Iowa and loves corn? I made cupcakes that with icing that looked like corn. For our monthly bonding lunch they decided to have a red, white, and blue themed lunch for the 4th. Dessert was blue. I made minature cheesecakes with glazed blueberries on top. To me it's fun and I love doing it! I want to learn more about the science of baking and learn how to start developing my own recipes.
ok last question - Have I ever worked in a bakery? No I have not. I am looking for a part time weekend job though. It's hard when you are working full time and want to have the weekend to have fun and reboot. I was thinking that a catering job would allow for more flexible hours. Open to thoughts on that though. Does any one have any connections in Fort Worth that might help?
In short, I love the business, love baking, and want to be able to move to doing it more fulltime. I'm having trouble taking the leap though. A lot of it is my parents uncertainty about the business that keeps me from packing up and leaving for school. They don't think I am serious about it or that it's a good idea with the recession going on making it difficult to get a job. I, being the dutiful daughter, of course want their approval and acceptance before going. They aren't against it. They are just wary of the idea. There's also the issue of money- the fund from my grandfather would probably pay for most of the tuition but might have to be combined with a school loan. Last but not least, because I think about it all the time: I'm getting older (I know I know 24 isn't old in the least bit, but I'm feeling that clock ticking) and feel that I should make the change now, while I'm single, not tied down, and able to make crazy decisions.
