Meet Joe Baker | Pastry Chef

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

Hi Joe, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Tailorability is what makes Joe the Baker stand out among our competitors. We ask the important questions that go beyond flavor, color, design and make sure what the customer is asking for will fit their expectation. Often times we push them toward something more refined or new in some way to make sure it’s special to the guest.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Joe the Baker is my birthright in a way, I tell people I was born to do this. I am a professionally trained, traveled, and practiced chef that left restaurants, hotels, and professional teacihing after almost a decade to dedicate my life to my family and my own ideals. Having worked in the industry for so long I have a keen understanding of how hospitality and business work with food that many home bakers or startups done. Being a professional chef instructor made me a much better chef because I learned how to explain the processes better and I got to see hundreds of ways to try a dish before settling on the approach I use. I consider our model most difficult way to run a food business from a financial standpoint since I can’t do simple things like receive bulk deliveries or have normal operating hours for customers but it also keeps the business very nimble. We quickly pivoted with all this years events and created ways to support our local community finding the foods and ingredients they needed when stores were out and we have adapted our model to suit the implementation of Zoom and Facebook Video cooking classes. We need profits to survive but Joe the Baker is also about serving the community. I have changed over the years too in what I do with the business. I don’t chase every single revenue maker if it doesn’t look good overall and I’m definitely not afraid to change something if it isn’t working. I want the world to know I am a hospitality professional and I love being a part of your celebrations, use my food knowledge and experience with flavors to enhance your events and your eating. Much like a doctor, who also wears a white coat, I know how to help you and we can create great outcomes together.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think a small road trip and a lot of food and drink is in order and we’d have to start at my favorite vineyard outside of Napa, Blue Ostrich Winery. It’s such a surprise to me every time when you crest that final hill on your approach, having seen desolation the whole drive, and suddenly there’s lush greenery and beautiful vistas. Taste as many wines as you can and relax in their event space. Then it’s dinner at Fearing’s! Dean is who I want to be when I grow up, he embodies hospitality entirely and their food and service is always perfect and personal. Then we need to visit my favorite local places: LA Burger, SAAP Lao Kitchen, Hot Box Biscuit Club, Hanaki Japanese Cuisine, Asian Mint, Pecan Lodge (the fried chicken here is amazing too), The Charles, Barley and Board, it’s a non stop feast. Then we need a big surprise- my favorite breakfast tacos come from the Moviehouse & Eatery- it’s true, they are amazing. There’s also time to imbibe at Parliament where cocktails are expertly crafted and my favorite pours from Community Beer Company and Peticolas Brewing Company. If the time of year is right a float down the Guadalupe River is in order so we can literally force ourselves to just go with the flow. One of my favorite things about our are is so many roadside farm stands where you can shake the hand of your farmer and pick the freshest, most vibrant food while you’re on your way to something fun. I am passionate about supporting local and it’s no compromise in Texas.

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 can’t say enough appreciation for my Coppell community as a whole. My products and my business are all influenced according to what the local market will support and they have been gracious throughout the years as we’ve grown into, almost, a household name locally.

Website: www.joe-the-baker.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe_the_baker/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joethebaker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joe_thebaker
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefjoebaker
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/joe-the-baker-coppell
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL6zR-0v1q-_Hbq6wqBKMVw