Story & Lesson Highlights with Anna Simeonides of Mount Airy

We recently had the chance to connect with Anna Simeonides and have shared our conversation below.

Anna, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Oh man, what an appropriate question. Well, I just opened my second shop! It is a European inspired bakehouse, so it’s a completely different concept from our original gluten free & and allergy friendly bakery. I am returning to my roots with Greek heritage and Southern childhood recipes. I feel like I am starting from scratch in many ways, although I am so grateful to have 10 years of business under my apron strings. I remember when I first started hobby baking…then doing farmers markets from my certified home kitchen. I distinctly stated, “I will never own a bakery. I don’t want to, that must be so much stress and work.” This is why you should never say never, haha! I thought it was going to be a fun occupation for a season, just make me some money. But it appears I must really enjoy “so much stress and work” lol. In reality, To Your Health Bakery has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. It granted me incredible opportunities professionally, served as my own personal university of life skills, and allowed me to exercise full creative freedom. But most importantly, it has forged an incredible community, both in my life and the lives of our staff and clients. I believe Christ centered community is a cornerstone of healthy humanity and I am ready to take my passion and extend it to a broader scope. I hope our newest concept, Meli Bakehouse, serves as a catalyst to launch people into their full potential. I pray that it becomes a gathering space overflowing with joy, an avenue to connect and network, and a hub of creativity. We are excited to nourish, serve, and inspire.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I am Anna Simeonides, affectionately known as “Anna the Baker”. I am the entrepreneur behind To Your Health Bakery, and my newest concept, Meli Bakehouse. To Your Health Bakery is a gluten free, allergy friendly facility that aims to bring awareness and serve a truly marginalized portion of the foodie community. It all started when my little brother was born with a plethora of allergies 20 years ago. At the time there was only one alternative baking book on the market to utilize as a resource. This realization grew into a passion for serving those with dietary restrictions so that food could continue to be a joy in their lives. Many farmers markets, a storefront, a pandemic, and 10 years later, I have decided to expand my repertoire and return to my Greek roots. Meli Bakehouse will operate as a European inspired cafe, featuring scratch baked pastries, savories, breads, and incredible coffee. We have many future fun plans for high teas, supper clubs, a pickup window, and more! We will continue to source high quality ingredients, including organic flour from Lindley Mills and local dairy from Homeland Creamery. We are so excited to be joining the Mt Airy community and anticipate becoming a cornerstone establishment.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My mom is the most incredible go getter that I know. She has taught me through example and I will never be able to thank her enough or repay her for helping me get to where I am now. My entire childhood was a mosaic of her constantly running all over the place – to her nightshift job, to help people, to shuttle us to school, to take us to church. She was a true example of hustle and sacrifice. She showed us from a young age that helping others actually serves you more than the recipient. Life seems to move faster the older I get and there is never enough time in the day. It can be exhausting but also productivity is incredibly gratifying. Connor Price says it best, “I’m either restless or I’m productive and it’s so destructive but it made me, me.” My saving grace for my sanity and balance in my life is church. It is my place of peace, of rest, of remembering my priorities, There is much beauty in this world but ultimately it is not our home. I hope to make my time here remarkable but most importantly, I hope I am storing my true treasures in Heaven.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Yes, I am incredibly blessed to have wonderfully supportive community. But I would say the best listener in my life is my Spiritual Father. In the Orthodox Church, we have the blessing of a built in counselor through this relationship. A spiritual father is a priest who performs the sacrament of confession. Ideally you have the same one for your entire life, allowing you to grow under their guidance and care as you share your struggles. I have been blessed to know my spiritual father since I was two years old and through God’s grace, he has helped me through my biggest trials. I am also incredibly close with a few nuns from different monasteries. They are the big sisters I never had. I like to say that monastics truly make the best of friends, because nothing is in it for them. Their whole mission is to unconditionally love, serve, and pray for the salvation of the world. It doesn’t get more Christ-like than that.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, for better or for worse, what you see is what you get. Whether that’s stressed, elated, frazzled, messy hair, or purple teeth (shoutout EP 2, S10 of Spring Baking Championship on Food Network), you are going to get the real, authentic me. I have concluded that I would rather be raw and approachable than put together and reserved. I think when you live vulnerably and allow people to see your insufficiencies, it gives them confidence to live authentically as well. I do wish I could be a bit more polished while maintaining my warmth but that is certainly a work in progress haha!

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing? 
I will regret not giving my all. I feel misunderstood sometimes – I fear that people might think I am career oriented and success driven. For me, the greatest success cannot be measured by worldly standards. However, I have been given tools to use and I refuse to sit idle and not attempt to maximize the talents God has entrusted me with. My work never comes before my family or friends. I travel often and try really hard to be the person that shows up. I will likely be late…but I will show up. Sometimes it is incredibly difficult to juggle everything. But I would rather squeeze out every drop of the day than not live to my fullest potential.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.melibakehouse.com/ https://www.toyourhealthbakery.com/
• Instagram: @anna_the_baker_ @melibakehouse @toyourhealthbakery

Image Credits
Lydia Sanger
Olympia Rusu