Recently, I had the opportunity to interview an employee of
Blue Baker (a College-Station-based bakery, pizzeria and deli). Abby Thomas is currently acting as the Bakery Manager of the local chain. Who is she and how did she get there? That's exactly what I wanted to find out. So, I interrupted her daily tasks of playing around with flour and sugar, and sat her down to ask a few questions. What I found was a true Southern girl just looking to enjoy life through baking.
Halfway through her sophomore year of college, Abby found herself in the midst of an Ag Leadership undergraduate program at Texas A&M University, miles away from her native Tennessee. As she missed home more and more, a well-known public figure became her link to the home she was missing:
Paula Deen. (Ms. Deen is a well-known Food-Network chef, specializing in Southern Cuisine. Seriously, if you've never seen her, check out the YouTube video at the end of this post!) The new-found passion for baking helped Abby finish her undergraduate degree and then take a 180 into the
Texas Culinary Academy in Austin, TX. In this LeCordon Bleu institution, Abby specialized in the bakery tract. A required internship found Abby working as a bakery intern at Blue Baker for three months. She put all her training to work and really made an impression, but as usual, all things had to come to an end, and Abby moved away from Blue Baker into an opportunity with Kroger.
Kroger hired Abby to be a head pastry chef in a high-end store outside of Houston. Luckily for the Bryan-College Station-area, Kroger's promise didn't hold true, and after working six months as a Bistro Manager, Abby found herself being asked back to Blue Baker to be the assistant bakery manager. She jumped at the opportunity! Fast forward four months, and Abby is now the official bakery manager.
I am inspired by Abby because of the creativity and quality she brings to store. Besides managing the bakery employees and filing paperwork, Abby creates new products for the store. If you've been to Blue Baker the last few months, you should have found yourself surprised with
monthly specials like Snicker doodles, Sticky Buns, Apple Tarts and Peach-Ginger Bread... right now, they're featuring Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip cookies(!). Her true passion comes out as she tests different recipes, comes up with new ideas and pushes for more opportunities to show her art.
So that's what Abby does and that is what she did to get there... but who is she? When I asked her that, this was her response:
"I don't really consider myself a baker, I just do what I like."
Abby is patient, she is creative, she is humble. She has a great southern accent to accompany her charming smile. She really is an asset to the Bryan-College Station community- she brings talent and passion to an ever-growing economy. Blue Baker should consider itself lucky to have such a passionate, talented baker in its midst. She focuses on quality, tries to put love in every dish she creates.. and all because another Southern woman of talent inspired her to do so.
I asked Abby, "If you were on Top Chef: Desserts and had to make your 'signature dish' what would it be?"
Her answer: "Peach Cobbler." Then she produced
this recipe for peach cobbler which she follows and adjusts to her liking. {Italian Cream Cake with Cream Cheese Icing would be her second choice.}
I also asked her a few of your questions and here are some tips she had for bakers everywhere:
- Be precise with your measurements. Once the dish is in the oven, you can't adjust it. So do it right.
- Have everything ready and measured before you start cooking, that way you won't forget anything.
- Make sure you want to bake-- otherwise you won't put your heart into it.
- To ice a cake without tearing up the cake, freeze it before you ice it. Or, if you don't have time for that, keep your spatula clean. Have a cup of water and towel next to you and clean off the spatula often.
- And to make a good butter cream icing, substitute shortening for some of the butter.
Next time you're looking for a place to eat for lunch, or next time you're visiting the BCS area, make sure to stop into Blue Baker and see what specials Abby has out. She may just surprise you!
(As promised, here's a Paula Deen clip of her making none other than peach cobbler!)
