Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa And Cam Vitale
Hi Theresa and Cam, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I remember one of my first jobs was filling buttery, crisp pastry shells with whipped cream at Del Ponte’s bakery up in New Jersey where I grew up. I remember loving how I smelled of vanilla on my way home from work; and when the owner of the shop commented that I was a natural at holding the pastry bag, it made all the difference in building my confidence.
I went on to learn culinary and pastry arts at The New York Restaurant School in the city; commuting on the NJ Transit train. I continued my journey, working at pastry shops owned by Mom & Pops, Italian restaurants, and even shadowed shifts at the Marriott Marquis of New York to dip my toe into a more corporate path. I never held a job more than 6 months at a time because I just didn’t feel like I had found “my place.”
I ended up applying for a barista role in 2002 at one of the largest national coffee brands in the US; which changed the trajectory of my future completely. I wouldn’t change anything because it brought me to my husband, and us living here in Winter Garden, FL.
All these years later though, even with a title that I’m proud of, baking has always been where I pour my heart into. Stressful day at work? I would bake an apple pie bread. Work travel tiring me out? I’d pipe royal icing on sugar cookies in the early morning hours of a Sunday to regain my mental balance.
My husband and I started our brand, Flour, Eggs, and Yeast during the pandemic; diving fully back into culinary and baking as a YouTube channel. It was the best stress reliever, and opportunity to feel connected with people. In 2022, I realized I no longer wanted to just give away all of our baked goods, but to go full on into the bakery scene again, with our own cookie business. We applied for our licenses, registered as a legal entity, and officially started selling cookies, and teaching cookie classes in 2023.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My husband, Cam, and I both continue to work full-time, rigorous careers; and we take turns balancing the business, whether it’s content creation for our channels of Flour, Eggs, and Yeast or Buzz with Your Cuz; a 40-person cookie class on a Saturday; or testing a new recipe. I’ve made mistakes in custom cookie orders, which gave me a pit in the bottom of my stomach…but the positive is that I own the mistake, I apologize, and work to make it right. What makes me happy is when our customers are happy. Thankfully, we’ve been able to do it successfully since opening.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We specialize in cookie and cake class pop ups in the Central Florida area. We’ve hosted over 300 people at cookie classes at one of our staple locations, the Island Touch Cafe in Ocoee, FL; and have recently expanded our class locations to Mount Dora, Florida at Great Scott Farms. People are always looking for a new, fun way to connect with friends, or even just do a solo activity that’s safe, fun, and different. With our classes, it’s always a positive vibe. Almost every class we’ve hosted since starting in November 2023 has sold out, with upwards of 25 to 40 people sitting at their individual cookie station with 6 ready-to-decorate vanilla bean cookies, 4 themed icing colors, and everything they need to create edible works of art to take home.
Our custom cookie business is also booming, and I believe it’s because we purposely choose high quality, real ingredients. Vanilla bean throughout the cookie dough that’s made with cage free, organic eggs, and unbleached organic flour. That’s it! We customize to the person’s preference; and we have an edible printer that can feature photography of the special event. Our cookies make people’s events that much “sweeter.”
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To never, ever give up on your dreams. I kept this love of baking and pastry in my heart for so many years; and I’m finally getting to live out my dream. I often comment that after teaching a cookie class, I feel like I’ve had 10 cups of coffee. It completely motivates me and gives me so much energy to interact with our customers, uplift them to build their confidence is piping their first cookie, from as young of an age as 5 to close to a 100. It is never too late to learn a skill, to try something new, to go after your dream. Life is a gift. And, every day, be thankful for what you have…but then also reach for what you know you have in your heart.
Pricing:
- Cookie Classes are $55 per person
- Cake Classes are $95 per person
- Custom Cookie Orders are $55/dozen
- We ship nationally and locally; free shipping is available for custom cookie orders of $100 or more.
- DIY At Home Cookie Kits are $35 each
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.floureggsyeast.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floureggsyeast/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floureggsyeast/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FlourEggsYeast
Image Credits
Angela Lucht Photography
