Meet Jenny Williams | Baker

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

Hi Jenny, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was planning my wedding and I was a little underwhelmed by the choices of wedding cake and the reliance on artificial ingredients, I enrolled at Grossmont College and started the amazing pastry program with Chef James Foran and the rest is history!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I strongly believe that anything we make should taste as good as it looks, I work hard to try and make our business as sustainable as possible. It has been a really hard journey, and I was very thankful to my business coach, Karie Kauffman, who helped turn the business around and made it successful. It is really difficult persuading people that we really do need to charge as much as we do just to break even. We strive to be kind and helpful and make sure to dot all the ‘i’s and cross all the ‘t’s so our client’s special event is as smooth as possible. We have struggled a bit through the pandemic, but we’re very grateful to all our friends and clients who have kept us going with smaller orders as we carefully operate with safety at the forefront.

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.
Monday we would head over to La Jolla shores for a walk on the beach. We’d grab a sandwich from the Cheese Shop and enjoy it overlooking the ocean keeping our eyes peeled for dolphins. In the evening, we’d head over to Bistro du Marche for yummy french food and wine! Tuesday we’d head to mission trails and enjoy oak canyon, which is especially stunning in the spring with all the wildflowers. We might head over to Rubios for one of their amazing burritos. I know its a chain but its my favorite comfort food! Wednesday we’d head over to mission bay and go kayaking with Aqua Adventures. We’d pick up to-go food from Lanna Thai and sit in the garden with the hummingbirds and maybe a cocktail from cutwater spirits. Thursday we would head up the coast and enjoy the beach in Carlsbad, and check out the amazing dinner at Jeune et Jolie Friday we would wander around Balboa Park and enjoy the museums and the hidden sights, with lunch at Panama 66. We’d then head up to Mr A’s for happy hour cocktails and yummy appetizers with a view! Saturday we’d head up to the back country for hikes around lake cuyumaca Sunday would be a spa day, and if we’ve still got lots of money left, we’d head over to the Grand Del Mar and enjoy an amazing tasting menu at the Addison.

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?
My absolute favorite person in the world is my Grandma, Joyce Doughty. She was such an inspiration as I was growing up, she always had a tin with some sort of cake or biscuits to share with any guests who stopped by, but she always made sure that she only indulged a little bit. When we went for meals, she always saved room for dessert, and her absolute favorite was Creme Brûlée, if that was on the menu, we had to get it! She was an acclaimed nutritionist and she believed strongly in a balanced diet and ‘a little of what you fancy does you good’ which I had inscribed on the wall at the bakery. I still miss her dearly but thankfully I have a few possessions and cookbooks from her that are a daily reminder of her influence on my life.

Website: https://jennywennycakes.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennywennycakes/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennywennycakes/
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jennywenny-cakes-san-diego?osq=wedding+cake

Image Credits
Tayler Cusick-Hollman