Avocado Creme Brûlée from Bodega Bakes by @smallorchids is featured in this week’s newsletter. Along with a book giveaway! Paola Velez grew up in the restaurant world in NYC and formed much of her world view at the corner bodegas in her neighborhood. She wrote this magical cookbook to share her joy and the inspiration she took from those powerful memories! It’s full of imagination, color and delicious recipes. love it so much and you will too! Comment “AVOCADO” or 🥑 and I will DM you a link to the book giveaway, my interview with Paola and for my paid “extras” subscribers she has shared this Creme brûlée recipe. The luscious texture of the avocados makes for a beautiful custard. Its subtle flavor is wonderful but the shine for me is the silky smooth finish with the crack of sugar! Yum! #avocado #cremebrulee #bodega #cookbook
🚨 DC, REJOICE 🚨 YOUR PRAYERS HAVE FINALLY BEEN ANSWERED—BIG DADDY CHEF STEVE IS DESCENDING UPON THE DISTRICT LIKE A DEEP-FRIED ANGEL 😇✨ FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY, EKIBEN IS POPPIN’ UP AT PROVIDENCIA ON FEB 19TH, SLINGIN’ THE GOODS ALONGSIDE THE LEGEND PAOLA VELEZ—PASTRY MASTER, JAMES BEARD AWARD-WINNER, AND THE ONLY PERSON ALIVE WHO CAN MAKE A CROISSANT AND A REVOLUTION AT THE SAME TIME. 🇩🇴🔥 AND YOU KNOW WE GOTTA SHOUT OUT ERIK BRUNER-YANG—DC’S FLAVOR WIZARD, THE MAN WHO KEEPS THE STREETS FED, AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD CONVINCE STEVE TO LEAVE BALTIMORE (EVEN IF JUST FOR A NIGHT). DON’T BE THE ONE HEARING ABOUT THIS SECONDHAND. PULL UP, BRING YOUR PEOPLE, AND LET’S GET BLESST.
A huge thank you to Sonia Rao (@sonia.rao ) and @washingtonpost for such a lovely review of Providencia! We’re beyond grateful and can’t wait to welcome you all into our small but mighty bar. Stop by tonight and say hi! 💗 Special shoutout to @reylopezphoto_ for braving a rainstorm to capture these beautiful shots, and to @babyjory_, @_mapache3, and @_lulumena the smiling faces that make Providencia feel like home Tuesday through Saturday. 🫂
A huge thank you to Sonia Rao (@sonia.rao ) and @washingtonpost for such a lovely review of Providencia! We’re beyond grateful and can’t wait to welcome you all into our small but mighty bar. Stop by tonight and say hi! 💗 Special shoutout to @reylopezphoto_ for braving a rainstorm to capture these beautiful shots, and to @babyjory_, @_mapache3, and @_lulumena the smiling faces that make Providencia feel like home Tuesday through Saturday. 🫂
A huge thank you to Sonia Rao (@sonia.rao ) and @washingtonpost for such a lovely review of Providencia! We’re beyond grateful and can’t wait to welcome you all into our small but mighty bar. Stop by tonight and say hi! 💗 Special shoutout to @reylopezphoto_ for braving a rainstorm to capture these beautiful shots, and to @babyjory_, @_mapache3, and @_lulumena the smiling faces that make Providencia feel like home Tuesday through Saturday. 🫂
A huge thank you to Sonia Rao (@sonia.rao ) and @washingtonpost for such a lovely review of Providencia! We’re beyond grateful and can’t wait to welcome you all into our small but mighty bar. Stop by tonight and say hi! 💗 Special shoutout to @reylopezphoto_ for braving a rainstorm to capture these beautiful shots, and to @babyjory_, @_mapache3, and @_lulumena the smiling faces that make Providencia feel like home Tuesday through Saturday. 🫂
A huge thank you to Sonia Rao (@sonia.rao ) and @washingtonpost for such a lovely review of Providencia! We’re beyond grateful and can’t wait to welcome you all into our small but mighty bar. Stop by tonight and say hi! 💗 Special shoutout to @reylopezphoto_ for braving a rainstorm to capture these beautiful shots, and to @babyjory_, @_mapache3, and @_lulumena the smiling faces that make Providencia feel like home Tuesday through Saturday. 🫂
A huge thank you to Sonia Rao (@sonia.rao ) and @washingtonpost for such a lovely review of Providencia! We’re beyond grateful and can’t wait to welcome you all into our small but mighty bar. Stop by tonight and say hi! 💗 Special shoutout to @reylopezphoto_ for braving a rainstorm to capture these beautiful shots, and to @babyjory_, @_mapache3, and @_lulumena the smiling faces that make Providencia feel like home Tuesday through Saturday. 🫂
See y’all tomorrow, March 14th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the concourse level outside the Oprah Winfrey Theater as we kick off the Bodega Bakes pastry pop-up @nmaahc! 🧁✨ Can’t make it tomorrow? No worries! The pop-up runs for the next two Fridays. And for those who want to chat and grab a signed copy, I’ll be back at Sweet Home Café on 3/28 for a special book signing! Huge thanks to @smithsonian and @restaurant_associates for making this Women’s History Month extra sweet! 💗
Hi friends! New newsletter has landed in your inbox. Today we talk all things chocolate! Today we’re covering: • How to make chocolate ganache in under 1 minute • How to make a food cost-friendly fudge sauce • How to temper chocolate with a microwave • Why you should add water to your chocolate (No I haven’t lost my mind) • My recipe for Café Con Leche brownies (!!) Visit my community updates for all the details on how to get these recipes in your kitchen! 💗🍫
Hi friends! New newsletter has landed in your inbox. Today we talk all things chocolate! Today we’re covering: • How to make chocolate ganache in under 1 minute • How to make a food cost-friendly fudge sauce • How to temper chocolate with a microwave • Why you should add water to your chocolate (No I haven’t lost my mind) • My recipe for Café Con Leche brownies (!!) Visit my community updates for all the details on how to get these recipes in your kitchen! 💗🍫
Hi friends! New newsletter has landed in your inbox. Today we talk all things chocolate! Today we’re covering: • How to make chocolate ganache in under 1 minute • How to make a food cost-friendly fudge sauce • How to temper chocolate with a microwave • Why you should add water to your chocolate (No I haven’t lost my mind) • My recipe for Café Con Leche brownies (!!) Visit my community updates for all the details on how to get these recipes in your kitchen! 💗🍫
Celebrating Women’s History Month at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture! ✨ Join me for a special Bodega Bakes pop-up at Sweet Home Café every Friday in March, featuring my pastries and book signings on 3/14 & 3/28 from 10-12pm . Come celebrate, grab a treat, and get your copy of Bodega Bakes signed! See you @nmaahc . 💜🍪 Treats available Fridays 3/14, 3/21 & 3/28 prices vary, limited availability.
My lil Baked Alaska Shaved Ice 🥰🍧 When creating this dish I wanted to combine the feeling of getting a frío frío on a street corner of NYC and the giddy feeling of joy every Dominican kid feels when they look at a billowing fluffy cloud of suspiro (aka Dominican meringue). Child-like joy is what guests feel when they first see the baked Alaska shaved ice. As they dig through layers of meringue, shaved ice, and more surprises my hope is that the worries of that morning fade away for a few moments while they enjoy this small but mighty dessert. Join us at @barprovidenciadc to experience this little scoop of joy for yourself—just be sure to save room for pupusas and a cocktail (or two) while you’re at it!
My lil Baked Alaska Shaved Ice 🥰🍧 When creating this dish I wanted to combine the feeling of getting a frío frío on a street corner of NYC and the giddy feeling of joy every Dominican kid feels when they look at a billowing fluffy cloud of suspiro (aka Dominican meringue). Child-like joy is what guests feel when they first see the baked Alaska shaved ice. As they dig through layers of meringue, shaved ice, and more surprises my hope is that the worries of that morning fade away for a few moments while they enjoy this small but mighty dessert. Join us at @barprovidenciadc to experience this little scoop of joy for yourself—just be sure to save room for pupusas and a cocktail (or two) while you’re at it!
My lil Baked Alaska Shaved Ice 🥰🍧 When creating this dish I wanted to combine the feeling of getting a frío frío on a street corner of NYC and the giddy feeling of joy every Dominican kid feels when they look at a billowing fluffy cloud of suspiro (aka Dominican meringue). Child-like joy is what guests feel when they first see the baked Alaska shaved ice. As they dig through layers of meringue, shaved ice, and more surprises my hope is that the worries of that morning fade away for a few moments while they enjoy this small but mighty dessert. Join us at @barprovidenciadc to experience this little scoop of joy for yourself—just be sure to save room for pupusas and a cocktail (or two) while you’re at it!
This is how to ethically participate in pastry trends without becoming a pastry burglar. 🕵🏽♀️ Swiper no swiping unless you start citing! 🕵🏽♂️ Join my @itstimetosteal community on substack
Howdy 😂 @hotluckfest returns May 22-25, 2025. And ya girl is going to be back Memorial Day Weekend in Austin. The all-in Whole Enchilada ticket package and individual event tickets are now on sale. Check out the full chef lineup and get tickets via hotluckfest.com 🤠
Howdy 😂 @hotluckfest returns May 22-25, 2025. And ya girl is going to be back Memorial Day Weekend in Austin. The all-in Whole Enchilada ticket package and individual event tickets are now on sale. Check out the full chef lineup and get tickets via hotluckfest.com 🤠
Wake up, friends! A fresh episode of “Steal This Recipe” just dropped. This week we cover: B*tches Who Put Flowers on Cakes—a New Yorker’s take on California-style cake decorating. Plus: ✨ How to try the trend yourself 🍸 A Steal This Cocktail recipe 🎤 A special Q&A with the incredible @ibakemistakes Don’t just scroll—read, save, and share with a friend! Are you into floral cakes or nah? ⬇️ lemme know in the comments below 🥰 ⬇️ #floralcakes #stealthisrecipe #cakedecorating
To be Black IS to be American. #superbowllix
This is why we call it ‘artisanal’ 😭 What’s your best ‘happy accident’ in the kitchen? Let me know in the comments as you avoid watching the game 😂 #restaurantlife #cheflife #hospitalityhumor #foodindustryproblems #chefsoftiktok #ReDiscoverMe
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my time on @Substack—it feels like we time-traveled back to 2015. But the difference? Every post feels like a mix between old IG and a tweet. It’s nice seeing people feel free again, posting their thoughts without that weird hesitation other platforms bring. And sure, maybe it won’t last forever, but for the first time in a while, I actually want to share more of my day-to-day. Of course, I’m easing into it (while I finalize content for paid subscribers), but it’s refreshing to feel like my posts are actually reaching the people who want to see them. Idk, I think some platforms need to go back to their roots—or they’re gonna keep losing creators. Or at the very least, maybe stop with the guerrilla tactics to keep people on their apps longer. If you want people to stay, just let them actually see who they follow! Haha, idk, just a thought. #AlgorithmReset
