Meet Emma Gibb | Owner of The Worldly Whisk

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma Gibb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Baking has always been a part of my life. My mom made my very first apron out of a dish towel when I was three. She taught me the basics and when I was an adult, I taught myself the rest. I baked weekly as a hobby and I always brought baked goods to parties and events. Everyone I baked for kept telling me that I should start a business and I just laughed it off. However, the seeds were planted. I was working a retail job and was honestly miserable. One day I decided I just couldn’t take one more day of it so I quit and started accepting custom orders. I knew I needed permits and a commercial kitchen so I went to the farmers market to talk to some of the vendors about the process. Driss, the owner of Liliana’s Delices, allowed me to work with him in his booth and taught me all about the permits. I kept going to the farmer’s markets and I fell in love. I knew then I wanted to be a part of that community. I got my permits and was accepted into the Mission Valley Farmer’s Market, as well as finding a local restaurant to provide desserts for.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Worldly Whisk is my creation. I love to immerse myself in food from cultures all over the globe and I wanted that to be a part of my business. My desserts and cuisine know no borders and there is always something new on my weekly rotations of desserts, whether it be tres leches from Mexico, or moon cakes from China. I never have the same menu twice and I believe this makes me different from other bakers, vendors, and bakeries. I am excited to continue to build my customer base and expand to other farmer’s markets and retail locations. It has been the hardest but most rewarding experience of my professional career. I work 7 days a week with only two days off per month. Some days I work 14 hours. I have never been more exhausted. It has been challenging but I am proud of each little accomplishment and happy customer. I learned to live with under 6 hours of sleep a night and most days, I only have time to eat one meal. When I am feeling overwhelmed, I sing the song from Finding Nemo, Just Keep Swimming. I have learned so much since starting my business. In particular, learning how to manage my time and budgeting my business finances. If I had to choose one thing for people to remember about my story, it would be, that my baking is a labor of love. I put love into everything I create and I hope that anyone who eats my desserts and cuisine, can taste it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is such a hard question. San Diego has so much to offer. Let’s begin with food! In no particular order, Hash House A Go-Go, Wa Dining Okan, Juniper and Ivy, Animae, The Lions Share, OB Noodle House, El Agave, and Sugar and Scribe. No vacation is complete without good drinks. My favorite drink spots are Tipsy Crow, Vin de Syrah, Trailer Park After Dark, The Holding Company, Coyote Cafe, and Rich’s. San Diego isn’t short of things to do. Some must do activities, according to me, are the zoo or safari park, a beach day in Coronado, walking around Old Town, the botanical gardens, any of the farmers markets, swimming with the sharks in La Jolla, a night out in the Gas Lamp, and a drive east into the dessert of Anza Borrego.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my success to Driss Benabdeljalil for teaching me everything and welcoming me into the farmer’s market. I would like to thank David Moore, of Sourdough and Moore, for helping me with my permit process and for believing in me enough to connect me with a local restaurant to provide desserts for. I would also like to thank my boyfriend Zach Gardner, and my parents, Brian and Josie Gibb, for their unending support and encouragement.

Instagram: @theworldlywhisk