Meet Maurice Ahern: Owner, Pastry Chef

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

Hi Maurice, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
This business was started to honor my son, Micah, who fought neuroblastoma for six years and passed away at age 7 in 2016. After he passed I wanted to do something that would honor his legacy and at the same time give back to various causes in the community. I wanted to create a place where people would love to gather and enjoy life, much like he did. Having a background in pastry, I wanted to do a coffee shop/bakery/cafe. In 2017, I started off with a baking business, Gold Ribbon Confections. As the business grew, we started looking at options and in 2020 we opened Grounds and Gold Coffee.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I grew up loving art but never imagined that art would end me up in pastry. My love for baking initially started with my grandmother and dad. I have fond memories baking with both of them. My professional career started by accident you could say. One day when I was an intern and buying groceries for a personal chef, I was asked if I could help with baking cookies. The chef and clients loved the cookies and that led to an assistant job with that chef. That was about 17 years ago. The road to where I am today has not been easy. It has involved many hours in kitchens, many complaints, and some major hardships along the way. In fact, for a period of time, it was more a means to an end! I was working in kitchens and going to school to be a professor. It wasn’t until Micah and John Rivers that I started reevaluating what I wanted to do! When I realized that I could actually do baking, and be intentional with it, much like art, to raise awareness and honor, I got a renewed passion! Now I get to be a part of peoples special memories, something I don’t take for granted anymore.

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.
Fort Worth–definitely downtown and stockyards. Arlington–Texas Live or a baseball/football game. Dallas–Trinity Groves area, Deep Ellum area, Bishop Arts Some local eating spots like Joe T Garcia, Reata, Lonesome Dove, or Bonnell’s. Would also visit Grapevine and some of the fun wineries on Main Street or take them to local craft places in Dallas (deep ellum) or Forth Worth (Main Street). I would also take them to visit some of the local art museums in both Fort Worth and Dallas, and even hit up a musical. 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?
This story doesn’t exist honestly without my son Micah. His mantra was “never ever give up” and that mantra helped get me out of a dark period in my life. During a 4 year period I had lost both my son and Dad to cancer and went through a divorce. During my son’s initial diagnosis, I had the opportunity to work for John Rivers, of 4 Rivers Smokehouse in Florida. John’s business actually started to help a family with cancer. Seeing his passion and commitment to the community is what sparked the possibility of doing a business in food.

Website: www.groundsandgold.com
Instagram: groundsandgoldco
Facebook: GroundsandGoldCo

Image Credits
Ron Jenkins (head shot) Photo with Micah (Gara Hill)