Life & Work with Jennifer Smith of Wake Forest

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Smith. 

Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always loved baking, ever since I was a little girl baking bread with my Sitty on Sunday afternoons. Baking has always been a hobby, but soon my friends started asking me to bake cakes for their kid’s birthdays, special occasions, or holidays. I moved to the Wake Forest area six years ago to take a promotion at a healthcare organization that I had been with for a long time. When I found out that Wake Tech Community College had a Baking & Pastry Arts program, I inquired about taking a few classes to enhance my skills at decorating cakes. I met with Chef Hadley at the South Campus over 4 years ago. South campus was just too far to drive in the evening with two small kids. After another year passed, I talked with Chef Hadley again about taking night classes because the Baking & Pastry Arts had moved to the new North Campus and was right down the road from my house. Well, life took an unexpected turn and my father’s cancer was back, and needless to say it wasn’t the right time for me to return to school. Time passed, I hated my job and sitting behind a computer, then my dad passed away. One of the last things he asked me was to follow my dream of becoming a Pastry Chef and opening my very own place. Three months after he passed, I resigned from my job, called Chef Hadley again and this time he helped me enroll for classes that started in January 2020. 

I walked into class on the first day as an older student not knowing what to expect, anxious and excited to see what the future would hold. I was asked why I was there and what I wanted to learn. My dream is to own a nighttime dessert bar where adults can come and enjoy desserts and cocktails. I wanted to learn everything, things I already knew how to do, maybe an easier way, and things I had no idea about. I made it through the first eight weeks, at the end of each eight weeks classes would change, so I started the next three classes, and two weeks in, COVID hit, and we were virtual. This was challenging to have virtual classes every day with the Chefs, trying to bake at home and then show them virtually what you had done without being able to feel it or taste it making it hard for feedback. We made it through and were allowed to return to campus in August, with reduced class sizes and masks. In October, a competition was held and I was awarded the bronze medal for Remy from Ratatouille made entirely from chocolate. Chocolate class was my favorite, making truffles and candies while Sugar class was my least favorite. Working with hot sugar was not fun resulting in lots of burns. 

The Chefs at Wake Tech North Campus are amazing and kept pushing to help me gain the knowledge for graduation. In May 2021, I graduated with an Associate Degree in Baking & Pastry Arts. I have continued to work out of my certified home base kitchen growing my business, while preparing to open a storefront in WheatField Shopping Center in Wake Forest, hopefully sometime in December 2021 or January 2022. 

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?
Starting a business during the pandemic has been challenging. Costs of materials, business loans, and finding ingredients to make baked goods. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Pastry Chef. I specialize in an array of desserts and pastries. 

I am known for wanting to own a nighttime dessert bar in Wake Forest that caters to adults. 

Most proud of obtaining my Associates in Baking & Pastry Arts during the pandemic as an older adult student. 

What sets me apart from others is the variety of items you can order. 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years I see that industry will start to appreciate the fine desserts and drinks after dinner. That Pastry Chefs will be appreciated as Culinary Chefs are today. 

Contact Info:

• Website: cravinconfections@gmail.com
• Instagram: cravinconfectionsdessert
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cravinconfections/posts/969683286930246?notif_id=1632080599302437&notif_t=page_post_reaction&ref=notif