Ever wanted to work at a bakery? Well I did, and I loved every second of it- even the time when I forgot to put sugar in the panna cotta (opps, sorry Christina and Toni). I ended up working in the bakery because I had to find an internship of my choosing during my senior year of high school.
While I was there I worked as a pastry cook at a bakery called Rudy's Bakery and Cafe. If you're a fan of the show Unique Sweets on the Food Network, Rudy's was featured for their amazing Beinstich and other delicious desserts.
I worked closely with their head Pastry Chef, Cristina Nastasi- she makes anything and everything. One of my favorite desserts are her tiramisu cups. The game changer in her tiramisu cups is that she uses Rudy's cakes instead of traditional wafers.
When I first went into my internship, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. In the end it was the best decision I could have ever made. I got to meet some of the most wonderful, hardworking, innovative and kind bosses out there. (Shout out to Christina and Toni.)
They took me in and taught me the ropes of working long hours in a small bakery. Christina and Toni showed me that there was a lot more to being in the food business than just having fun and baking. There's long hours, pleasing customers and stress behind it all. I learned very quickly that while I could bake, I needed a lot of help when it came to presentation and precision. My first attempt at frosting a cupcake was pretty laughable but with Christina's help I got much better.
I had no idea, I was going to end up being able to make so many different things. I made, cookies, cupcakes, panna cotta, cake pops, frittatas, scones and so much more. But, all this responsibility and fun didn't happen over night. I had to prove to Christina that she could trust me with doing different tasks. I was always so pumped when she showed me how to bake or perform some of the harder recipes.
If you're ever in NYC, take the short subway ride into Queens and give Rudy's Bakery and Cafe a shot. It filled me with joy and I know it will do the same for you. Once you walk in the door you're sure to be welcomed by Christina and/or Toni with a huge smile. But beware, once you enter the bakery, you will be engrossed by the incredible smell of baked goods, and you won't want to leave empty-handed.