A Salmon Arm baker and trained pastry chef has brought her talents back home.
Kate Boutillier was raised in Salmon Arm, but moved away right after high school to pursue her dream: baking and perfecting pastries. She visited infrequently during her young adult life, she said, but on one trip home she felt a difference in Salmon Arm, a younger and more vibrant feel, and decided to move back shortly after.
As she settled back in town, Boutillier entered the 2022 Shuswap Launch-a-Preneur competition, hoping to kick start a local storefront where she could sell her cakes and treats and introduce Salmon Arm to the world of upscale pastry with Flake Pastry and Chocolate.
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A friend who has since passed away was instrumental in getting Boutillier to compete, she said. He came from Alberta wanting to open a coffee shop in Salmon Arm and they were working together at first.
91裸聊视频淚t was an excellent experience, and fantastic for meeting people in the community, so I thank him,91裸聊视频� Boutillier said.
After winning third place in Launch-a-Preneur, she said most of her winnings went to legal and corporation fees, 91裸聊视频渘one of the exciting stuff,91裸聊视频� and her first year in business was spent at farmers91裸聊视频� markets and the Zest Food Hub91裸聊视频檚 night market events.
She was pregnant at this time as well, so her personal life was just as busy as her new business, she said.
When the market season was over, Boutillier said she went to PJ91裸聊视频檚 restaurant in Centenoka Mall and saw an open space, after Florabella Decor moved its storefront across the mall.
91裸聊视频淚 thought, since we move all our stuff from our kitchen to markets, why not do that whenever our open hours at the mall are? Why wouldn91裸聊视频檛 that work?91裸聊视频�
After applying to Community Futures for a small business loan, renovating the mall space slightly, updating signage and buying a new oven and display case, Flake officially opened in February 2023.
91裸聊视频淚 underestimated the financial investment that goes into renovating a space 91裸聊视频� I91裸聊视频檓 kind of thinking this might be more of a launch pad location, but I91裸聊视频檓 not sure,91裸聊视频� said Boutillier. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 kind of grassroots. But, Purdy91裸聊视频檚 business model is in malls, so maybe we do want to do that.91裸聊视频�
With plans to eventually expand Flake, Boutillier wants to find the right staff to move forward, especially a trained pastry chef to help offset some of her workload with a new baby in tow.
91裸聊视频淓ven just somebody who has inspiration to learn, because for now I can only do so much. I don91裸聊视频檛 want to outsource parenting my children!91裸聊视频� Boutillier laughed. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 trying to find a happy medium right now. I do feel bad I can91裸聊视频檛 be open five or six days a week, but the community is fantastic and maybe just don91裸聊视频檛 know my story.91裸聊视频�
Boutillier has an extensive history in the restaurant industry, having served and cooked in commercial kitchens, baking and honing her pastry chef skills. She also draws on her upbringing in a family that gardened and prioritized fresh food, with a mother and grandmother who fostered her interest in baking.
After attending Northwest Culinary Academy of Vancouver, Boutillier worked at Karat Chocolate in Kelowna. She also has her fair share of competition experience, having competed in Junior Chef of the Year in 2012, winning regionals in Kelowna, provincials in Vancouver and nationals in Edmonton. She was also on Team Culinary, living in Vancouver to train with the team and go on to compete in Switzerland.
91裸聊视频淭he industry was a rude awakening, I91裸聊视频檒l be honest 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 male-dominated, rough, fast-paced and there91裸聊视频檚 not a lot of margin for error. But it91裸聊视频檚 exciting. I fell in love with the fast-paced bit of theatre that is the restaurant industry and the rest is history.91裸聊视频�
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