Dessert of the Month: Wooden Table Baking
Our December vendor is based in Oakland, CA and Dessert Goals founder Miraya lives down the street from their cafe. After eating a pumpkin spice alfajor, Miraya was smitten and knew Dessert of the Month subscribers would love their treats!
All of their recipes are based Andrés’ grandmother’s recipes. They honor her and Argentine tradition by baking our cookies from scratch using all natural ingredients. Real butter, eggs, milk and sugar, just like grandma did.
Wooden Table Baking is an immigrant-owned, women-led, LGBTQ-certified business. If you’re looking to spend your holiday shopping dollars by supporting a small business, look no further than Dessert of the Month!
Read on to learn more about Wooden Table Baking. Don’t forget to sign up by December 15th to receive December’s box! Sign up here.
Meet Andrés, founder and head baker of Wooden Table Baking.
What is the origin story of Wooden Table Baking?
The story begins at my grandmother’s wooden kitchen table in Argentina, she taught me how to cook ravioli, gnochi, tarts, and, of course, alfajores. This is the moment where my love affair with dulce de leche begins, there I started sneaking spoonfuls of this delicious treat when she wasn’t looking. Our company name honors this heritage, as well as the joy of the shared table. Sharing with loved ones and strangers alike is at the heart of Argentinian life. It really is the driving force behind Wooden Table Baking.
Tell us the most rewarding part about owning a business? Where do you believe you get your entrepreneurial spirit from?
The most rewarding part for sure is to be able to feed people, to share memories of Argentina with everyone, and to eat dulce de leche, which feels like home.
My entrepreneurial spirit comes from my mom and from my dad’s part of the family. My mom always wanted to have a business. She sold ice cream and even had a little grocery store at home for a while, but she had to have a job to support us. When my dad left she wasn't able to do both things anymore so she stayed with the most secure job, but her soul was entrepreneur. My dad's side of the family were all self employed, they have had different businesses throughout the years, a bar, a grocery store, a flower shop. I always wanted to be there, but when my parents got separated I didn't see them that much. I remember the few times I was there I felt happy.
What is your process of creating new desserts and themed flavors?
I find inspiration everywhere, from the Great British Bake Off show to whatever I'm craving from my childhood. I like to come up with new flavor fusions -what Argentinian culinary tradition can be introduced to the American palate and what can we combine it with to create new traditions- potato chips, peanut butter, passion fruit, limoncello. I'm constantly thinking what else. I am thankful I have the opportunity to taste food of different cultures and realizing the things that we have in common, the different flavors and the combination of it all... I love traveling and I love the world. And I love tasting new things constantly. It brings me a lot of joy and inspiration.
What is your favorite dessert recipe to make at home?
Rogel cake: A tall tower of pastry and dulce de leche topped with meringue. It's so much fun to make!
Do you have any advice for others out there who are interested in starting a 'sweet' business?
Have fun. Running your own business is hard work and it can be very stressful, but the whole point is to have fun with it. Make sure you stop and enjoy the ride - celebrate, share, laugh and enjoy yourself.
In 3 words, describe your brand.
Sweet and together.
