Today we’d like to introduce you to Juna D Roberts.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The idea for Lourdes Marie Bakery began long ago. When I was a little girl, I became my mother’s favorite assistant in the kitchen. This was the foundation of my passion to cook, to bake, to decorate and to create delightful treats from the produce we grew on our family farm in the Philippines. The kitchen became my safe and happy place to be. I remember as a little girl, my siblings and I, along with neighborhood friends, would play “buy and sell”. Our ingredients came from the flowers and leaves in our backyard. We created pretend baked goods and delicious dishes out of juice of flowers and wonderful piled up scraps for sale and barter. I enjoyed spending time with my family and neighborhood friends but that did not stop my fascination with baking, cooking and cake decorating.
I made my first three tier wedding cake and dessert table when I was in high school. During that time too, my sister took cake orders from her coworkers working with her in the hospital and I would make them for her. I went to college in another city, receiving a bachelors degree in Medical Technology, but I continued to further develop my baking and cooking skills.
I became a Medical Technologist working in the laboratory of a hospital. While there, I became known to others as their reliable source for cooking and baking. I moved to Tyler Texas when I married my husband. I continued to refine my skills by immersing myself in baking and cake decorating courses. I enrolled in three levels of cake decorating classes. I also studied under different chefs learning baking techniques. I continued my schooling through online courses to further my mastery of baking and decorating.
Five years prior to opening my bakery, I had the opportunity to tour Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, watching their production processes through a friend who had connections in the bakery. It was a heaven sent opportunity and a dream come true. I had followed Cake Boss on television and to step into the actual bakery solidified my conception of the bakery I was going to open.
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?
Now that I have the bakery, it is not without challenges. I’ve learned that owning a business is not for the faint of heart. It requires courage and a lot of faith in God. Every day brings a new challenge and a victory. Whether it is the building, the equipment, running short on supplies or something completely unexpected, there are always challenges. But I take my journey as where God has me right now. I am blessed with abilities and a family who supports me in the endeavor. I want to be a good steward of what I am blessed with.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Lourdes Marie Bakery?
Lourdes Marie Bakery is an Asian-inspired bakery that opened in Tyler Texas. It offers all sorts of baked goods – cakes, cheesecakes, cupcakes, macarons, mochi donuts, breads, cookies, other pastries – as well as savory items including empanadas, spring rolls and chicken pies. What distinguishes Lourdes Marie Bakery from most competition is that items are made from scratch using fresh ingredients. The bakery does not use premade, purchased mixes for items.
We are most proud of the custom orders we uniquely make for those who preorder. We hand decorate cakes and cookies. We can also print corporate logos or other designs on cookies. We also have cakes, cookies, breads and lunch items available for walk-in customers. We also cater events.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My mother was my first mentor. I was her favored helper in the kitchen throughout my childhood. Later in life, my family helped me by promoting my skills with friends and coworkers resulting in opportunities to practice my baking skills. As an adult, many friends have encouraged me by having me provide cakes and other pastries for their parties and occasions of all kinds. My advice would be to start with family and your circle of friends starting out and allow it to expand from there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lourdesmarie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lourdesmariebakery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lourdesmariebakery/
