Riding the Waves: Uplifting conversation with our host Leslie and our guest speaker Harris Inskeep. Before joining the world of professional pastry, I was a kindergarten teacher in Los Angeles and New York City for four years. Working with kids has always been a passion of mine, but so has baking. As a kid, I would set up shop in our family’s kitchen baking cookies, dessert bars and cakes for anyone who would taste them. In college, I would break from my studies to bake treats in my apartment and send them to friends all over the country. As an adult, I would often daydream about how or when I might be able to make baking more than a hobby... Finally, in the winter of 2018, I took a class with a pastry chef and shop owner in Paris who inspired me with her conversion story to pastry as a profession. To my surprise, there was no eureka moment or divine intervention, she just knew what she enjoyed doing, believed that she had a message to share with her pastries, enrolled in a course and dove right in. Two days later, I flew back to New York and decided to do the same. After graduating from the International Culinary Center in New York City, I joined the pastry team at Gramercy Tavern. Working in a professional kitchen, I enjoyed learning new techniques and partaking in the creation of beautiful and delicious desserts. But I missed that moment of contact and exchange with the client; contemplating the menu, imagining the different flavor combinations and indulging in their sweet finale. So in my free time, I started taking custom cake orders - I've always enjoyed creating cakes to reflect a personality or occasion, and I love how inviting and convivial they are. As more and more requests came in for cakes and other sweets, I decided to expand the operation and launch Harris Bakes. The goal in all of this is to continue doing what I love: baking for people. From custom cakes to bagels, cinnamon buns, cookies, pastries and more, I love to collaborate with my clients to make their sweet wishes and designs come to life. Follow our Host: Leslie Nguyen on Instagram @coachleslienguyen Follow our Guest: Harris Inskeep on Instagram Visit Harris Bakes: a West Village Bake Shop located at 72 Bedford Street, New York, NY
