Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Bradford.
Hi Amanda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have been working in kitchens and restaurants I was 15 years old. I have done everything from the Dalai Llama’s 80th birthday cake to celebrity private events to cooking classes in clients’ homes, and even running restaurants! I have cooked in a variety of restaurants and has been a Pastry Chef. Currently, I own and operate Bradford Bakery and am a Culinary Instructor. I love cooking and baking and enjoy teaching people all the things I have learned along the way to put an amazing meal on the table for friends and family to enjoy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The Culinary Industry is definitely challenging. There have been moments I have wanted to quit. When you first start out, you are doing so many things and trying to learn and take in information as quickly as possible to propel yourself ahead of the crowd. It was hard to hear the harsh reality of the industry from seasoned chefs but the people that were the hardest on me were and are my biggest cheerleaders and I owe the skills I have learned along the way to them for taking that time to teach me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a chef. I create art through taste and presentation. My biggest motivator is to create good food that is nostalgic or that is that perfect exclamation point on the event I am working on. I love to put smiles on people’s faces and I love that running a small business really allows me to get to know my clients and create something really special for them. I specialize in cakes and pastries but have been cooking as well for a long time. The thing I am most proud of is being on the Team of Pastry chefs that did the 80th birthday cake for the Dalai Llama.
What sets me apart from others is my tenacity and unwillingness to except “good enough”. I am constantly looking to learn something new or push my skillset even further to always be evolving.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have had amazing mentors and some huge cheerleaders along the way. Being able to run this business full time would not have happened without my supportive husband. He helped me to get everything up and running and still is one of my biggest supports and cheerleaders. Career-wise, my mentor Tara Johnson was a huge player in my success and being where I am today. I also credit a lot to my mentor when I was in school, Larry Lopez. I interned for him and he taught me so much, I was always ahead of all the kids at school just by experiencing his production and him teaching me new things all the time.
Contact Info:
- Email: amanda@bradfordbakery.com
- Website: https://bradfordbakery.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradfordbakeryco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bradfordbakeryco/
Image Credits
Blessed Photography
