Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Sapp.
Hi Alicia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio I’ve always been surrounded by culinary arts and the food industry. My father was a chef for over 40 years so my passion for food runs deep but my love for baking I believe stems from my grandmother. Taking all the lessons and skills my father taught me and the natural techniques my mother passed to me from her mother really motivated me to want my own pastry business. I pursued and completed my Baking & Pastry degree at Johnson & Wales in Charlotte back in 2018 and have been working through the industry since.
Growing a following for my business Sapphire Sweets has been an amazing journey over these few years and I can’t wait to expand and share all the delicious creations I have with people across the country and globe!
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?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. Balancing two jobs and still trying to maintain my personal business solo has had some ups and downs from messed up presentations, late nights, lack of sleep, or mixed up deadlines. Learning and adapting from my mistakes has helped me to continue to strive for a successful pastry and catering business in the future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a certified and experienced pastry chef I have been able to take traditional old school desserts and add my personal flare and touch to give that warm, full feeling with every dessert and pastry I create. Some of my specialties include different cheesecakes such as peach cobbler, cinnamon roll, and Biscoff Caramel.
I’m mostly proud of the initiative that I have taken to really put my business out into the public. Taking on different events without much help, if any has been a learning curve and opened my eyes to what it really takes to thrive in this industry.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’d say the best way to find a mentor or just network would be to get out of your comfort zone, put your best foot forward and make sure the 1st impression is always the best one. Working in the hospitality industry and doing vendor events has allowed me to open up to telling my story to others. Not being afraid to show vulnerability and authenticity are great for networking and finding a mentor.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sapphiresweets98
- Facebook: Alicia Sapp
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sapphiresweets98?_r=1&_t=ZP-97WBeGgzwb8
