How do you find time for professional confectionery and studies?
Contrary to appearances it is not that difficult. The remote (online) lectures made my work much easier, because I baked between the classes. I remember decorating gingerbread cookies and instead of Christmas carols, you could hear a tax lecture in the background. Sometimes I also had to throw away the biscuit or cream because the classes turned out to take longer. It got more difficult after returning to the university, but thanks to the obligation to leave home for the classes, I was able to shop and look for inspiration in the confectionery shop windows.
And how did it all begin? How did you get interested in this subject?
I guess it is because of my mother, who used to bake various cakes and cookies very frequently. Since I was a child, I tried to help her with better or worse results. She was the main commander in the kitchen until the outbreak of the pandemic, when due to the excess of free time I decided to experiment a bit. First, I tested various recipes available on the Internet, but it turned out that there is nothing better than my mum and grandma's secret recipes. I chose the most interesting ones and started the first trials, without success. I didn't give up though and by the end of the quarantine I had already reached quite a decent level.
While watching your social media now, one can come to the conclusion that your baked goods are very professional. They look as if they had been made by a professional. What do you think, can anyone become a pastry chef?
I think it all depends on willingness, level of interest and good mentoring. My mother taught me the basics. I baked my first biscuits and cakes under her supervision. With time, I started to invent new recipes myself – I combined recipes from the Internet with those from my mother. Everything was done by trial and error.
Can anyone become a pastry chef?
I think that if I were to answer this question a few years ago, the answer would be no, because I was useless in the kitchen myself. However, now I believe that anyone who likes baking can become a pastry chef, because it all depends on how much heart, time and willingness we put into in our work. Each recipe requires to be refined. Even now I make blunders. For example, once I forgot to add cheese to my cheesecake. To this day, I don't know how I could have forgotten about it.
Where did the idea for management studies come from?
I bake cakes for family and friends, but I must admit that I dream of my own confectionery. Who would run it better than a graduate of the Faculty of Management? I hope that in the future I will be able to open my own business and use the knowledge gained during my studies. In fact, management in public administration focuses on the public sector, but I believe that the knowledge obtained during my studies will definitely be useful for me in setting up my own business.
The studies have helped me to pursue my passion. They have opened my eyes to the possibility of obtaining funding for further development. In addition, I have gained some skills – for example in the field of market analysis or marketing, which will certainly help me in my future being a businesswoman.
Source: Mateusz Sobociński