Meet Sofia Garcia | Pastry Chef and Baker

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

Hi Sofia, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
At the age of 18, I entered the culinary and pastry industry, and I immediately fell in love with this world. I became deeply immersed in it, starting to work and study simultaneously. My career quickly became my top priority, and I set aside social events, family, and friends. I have always been driven by the desire to excel in what I do, but often, in my focus on work, I lost sight of myself, I forgot that I too needed a breath, a break.

For many years, I worked long days, sometimes holding two jobs because I questioned why I needed so much free time. I convinced myself that it was better to make use of it by working, and that’s what I told myself at the age of 25. I kept going, working 12 to 14-hour days, not counting the holidays, which turned into endless days with no breaks—no rest, no meals—because fulfilling my role as a Chef came first.

Last summer, I was longing for a vacation and also needed to celebrate my 30th birthday. The company, which I am no longer a part of, wouldn’t allow me to take more than 10 consecutive days off, claiming that the chef couldn’t be away from the building for more than 10 days, a policy that wasn’t written anywhere. After those vacations, I decided that my life needed a change, a breath of fresh air. I realized I needed to find a job where I could achieve a better balance between my personal life and my career.

My mind was tired. For months, I hadn’t been able to tap into my creative side, as I was exhausted from working non-stop for so many years, without taking care of my own needs or my mental health

From that moment on, I decided to put myself first before anything else. I don’t mean to say that my job or career is no longer important, but in order to give my 100%, to be creative, to love and have passion for what I do, I need a good balance in my life. I need to eat, rest, have moments of calm, and reconnect with myself, with my family, and with my fiancé. I need to be present in order to make a change.

Balance should be a priority in everyone’s life. Being able to step into a kitchen and enjoy every creation, every dish, every piece of bread we make with our hands is what truly matters. It means nothing when we do it just to meet a standard and forget about ourselves.

As a Latina and the first generation in my family, I feel a responsibility to honor my parents’ name, to stand out among so many people, and to be in a country where I had the great opportunity to learn a new language in order to grow professionally. This has allowed me to communicate and express myself with words, not just through my desserts.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My first interaction with anything related to cooking was making cakes. People remember me for that, for my passion for making cakes. Although it was something I had stopped doing to focus and grow in other areas, lately, I’ve returned to what I truly love—creating flavors, fillings, creams, and different combinations of tastes.

I am very proud to be a Latina, a Mexican woman who came to the United States knowing only five words in English. Today, it may not be perfect, but it has given me the strength and courage to face challenges, to turn every day of my life into a challenge, and to not let myself be intimidated by my weaknesses but to turn them into opportunities for both personal and professional growth. I am proud that I have always stayed true to myself, that I have always believed in myself, and that I knew, since I was 4 years old, that I wanted to dedicate myself to pastry.

It wasn’t easy. I would repeat and repeat the words in English whenever I had to ask my chef something. I made mistakes and tried again. I never gave up because I knew that one day, all the effort would be rewarded.
One of my biggest challenges was leaving San Diego and going to Mexico City and another state in Mexico to do my professional internships. Leaving my family, going to cities I didn’t know, meeting people I didn’t know—it was a real challenge. It was a wonderful experience that I would repeat. I worked with great chefs whom I admire and respect.

I want people to know me, so that when they hear my name, they will think of the pastry chef who makes delicious and beautiful desserts. I want people to seek me out for their birthday cakes because they want it to be something truly special. I want people to crave my breads, croissants, and all kinds of desserts. I want them to experience my culture through my creations, the things that represent me and identify me as a human being

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.
sunset cliff
farmers market all around san diego
local coffee shops
sushi restaurants because the best sushi in us is in san diego
mexican sea food of course
little italy
local bakeries like izola, con pane, wayfarer, craft cafe at Mingei

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?
First and foremost, to my parents, who have been my greatest support throughout my life and are the ones who enjoy my cooking the most.

My school, Culinary Art School in Tijuana, opened the doors to the culinary world for me. It connected me with people, chefs, and chef instructors from whom I learned so much.

Chef Margaret Nola was my chef for three years at Rancho Bernardo Inn. Watching this woman balance being a mother, a wife, and managing a kitchen at that level is truly admirable. She has been a woman I deeply admire and respect.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sofiagarcia17/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-garcia-924a22284