Today we’d like to introduce you to Sayda Rapalo.
Hi Sayda, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
My name is Sayda Rapalo, and I’m a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington. I was an ESL instructor and TV host in my home country. We moved to Dallas in 2012, and I became a High School teacher. The only way to teach my students about following “your dream” was to follow my dream to become a French Pastry Chef.
I started my career as a pastry chef at El Centro College in Dallas in 2014, and in the summer of 2015, I enrolled at the prestigious Culinary School Ferrandi in Paris, France.
Later, I became a full-time student at Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Patisserie in Yssingeaux, France, where I graduated as a French Pastry Chef. I worked for a Chocolatier in Lyon, France.
In December 2017, I decided to open my bakery. In 2019, Quixote Bakery was named #80 by Yelp’s top 100 places to visit in the USA. While establishing the Quixote Bakery, I worked for Birdville ISD.
During the Covid pandemic, just like many other businesses, I had to close my bakery in January 2021. In November 2021, my husband and I decided to give it a second chance and re-open the business. This time we wanted to revamp our vision. Quixote Bakery Café became L’Epicerie by Quixote, a French Gourmet store, and with this new vision, Rapalo Coffee Roaster was born.
I’m currently a part-time Talented and Gifted Teacher for Dallas ISD. My new plan is to launch a monthly delivery coffee subscription and include a teacher edition box. Teachers like me sometimes need a little caffeine to start a teaching day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a mom, teacher and entrepreneur have not been easy. The struggle is to find a balance to dedicate time to every area of my life. Many ask me how I do it.
There is no easy answer to that. Having a supportive sidekick could be one; just like in the novel of Don Quixote, Sancho Panza supported and believed in all of Don Quixote’s craziness. In my case, having a loyal husband who understands my vision and supports me in every way is the best thing a wife, teacher, and entrepreneur could have.
I had to become an organized, time freak, and consistent person. I created a schedule and followed it by heart every day. But the biggest challenge is having time to raise an Honor Roll teenager and a spirited 3-year-old.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are known for making traditional French desserts such as Dacquoise, baba au rhum, Paris Brest, eclairs, canelé, Parisian flan, petit gateau, and more.
L’Epicerie sells imported French products such as jams, mustards, spreads, teas, sodas, salt, gluten-free baking mixes, soaps, and unique gifts.
Rapalo Coffee Roaster imports its single-origin coffee directly from El Paraiso, Honduras. We partnered with Fortune Mountain Specialty Coffee. They are farming and producing 24 different highly coveted coffee varieties FDA approved and Kosher certification. In our shop, you will find 9 of those varietals of coffee, including organic Geisha, Java, SL-34, and more. All our coffee comes from micro lots and is roasted weekly in-house by my husband Roland Rapalo. Soon we will start wholesale green beans programs for anyone who would like to roast our coffee.
Saturdays, it’s French desserts day. We don’t have a set menu for our desserts; every time, you will find something new. One Saturday per month, we like to feature a flavor or theme where all the desserts will have or be inspired by that flavor. We featured a lavender day, Italian day, everything chocolate day, coffee day, and more.
We also have galettes crepes and croissant sandwiches on our daily menu. Our galettes (savory crepes) are made with buckwheat imported from France.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We plan to open a coffee shop with French natural wines next year.
I love teaching and have created two months paid internship program for high school students.
In the future, I want to create an incubator with kitchens where I can help and guide pastry students and chefs to start their own businesses. As a teacher, I want to pass along my knowledge to future entrepreneurs in the patisserie world.
You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram or email us at quixotebakery@gmail.com or any coffee business at rapalocoffee@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.quixotepastries.com
- Instagram: @lepicerie_by_quixote
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lepiceriebyquixote/
