If your mouth is watering during this interview, we get it. Every time we see Laura, owner and pastry chef of Filigree Bakery, she’s usually behind a table covered with desserts she has made. They’re works of art that are also edible. She makes such lovely pastries but also Laura is one of the kindest people and we can’t wait for you to learn more about her.
Indy Women in Food: You have some pastry accolades under your belt. Can you tell us what they are exactly?
Laura: -Over 8 silver/gold medals in ACF-sanctioned competitions (American Culinary Federation)
- 2015 won ACF Central Region Pastry Chef of the Year
- 2015 won ACF National Pastry Chef of the Year in Orlando, Florida
- 2017 US Pastry Competition in New York (tryout for Pastry Queen USA 2018)
- 2018 Pastry Queen Competition in Rimini, Italy (placed 2nd out of 12 countries)
Indy Women in Food: Whoa, okay if you 2024 you could talk to 2018 and 2015 you, what do you think you’d say to her?
Laura: Don't underprice to get the order and it is ok to say no to last minute orders. People will plan, appreciate, and pay for quality desserts.
Indy Women in Food: You’re an active vendor at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market but where else can people find your stuff?
- Irvington Farmers Market
- Statehouse Farmers Market
- Market Wagon (code "macaron" for $5 off your first order)
- pop ups (listed on www.filigreebakery.com and social media)
- custom orders (www.filigreebakery.com)
Indy Women in Food: The birth of Filigree is pretty special, can you share it with us?
Laura: After I had my daughter, I was working at Gallery Pastry Shop and decided that I didn't want to work nights, weekends, holidays so I could spend more time with her. For her first birthday (December 1, 2019) I made hand-painted macarons and that resulted in a small feature in Indy Monthly. Fast forward, we all remember March 2020..... I started making macarons and baking for fun and posted them on my IG. Friends started reaching out and asking for porch pickup. I started gaining followers and in Sept 2020 Filigree Bakery officially launched. I was part time for the first 2 years and had my second kid, Otto. 2022 was my first official full-time year.
Indy Women in Food: What inspired you to originally pursue a career in the food industry?
Laura: I always loved to bake as a kid. I would determine if I liked my babysitter based on if she would bake with me. Baking was something I always did and it had been my plan to become a chef and open a restaurant in high school LOL! I was accepted to all of the "big schools" like French Pastry School, Culinary Institute of America, Johnson and Wales. However, my parents wanted me to go a more traditional route of a 4 year college as they didn't think culinary school was a good career choice. I decided to go to Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI and basically set out to prove everyone wrong.
Indy Women in Food: You’re a Korean Adoptee, growing up did this impact your relationship with food and do you think it impacts the food you create now?
Laura: Woof.... that is a deep question lol. Not really on the relationship with food, more on the people-pleasing and striving for perfection. This would probably be better discussed over a cocktail, lol.
Indy Women in Food: We’re down for drinks! What’s next for Filigree? We heard through the grapevine there may be some expansion….
Laura: The goal is to have a commercial kitchen and a small retail space. I love the farmers market and pop-ups and will continue to do those even when I am no longer a home-baker.
Indy Women in Food: Can we request that behind-the-scenes videos of your food ink printer be uploaded to Instagram soon?
Laura: Yes!
And there you have it—a glimpse into the sweet, inspiring journey of Laura and Filigree Bakery. From international pastry competitions to hand-painted macarons, Laura’s a big deal and if you play your cards right you can catch her at local markets or place a custom order, you’ll not only taste the artistry in her desserts but also the grit behind them. Keep an eye on her growing business, by giving her page a follow!
