Meet Amy Corliss | Pastry Chef & Proprietress

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

Hi Amy, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
The main lesson my business has taught me over the past 13 years is that relationships and community matter most.

I set out to create a space, make a product line that I love, and to do things my way. I’m grateful to say I’ve accomplished those things! However, early on as I was setting those goals, it didn’t occur to me that the biggest gift from creating that space, leading a staff, and serving customers each day would actually be the relationships formed through our daily work. My life has been so enriched by the people I’ve met and grown to love, on both sides of the counter. People are what make all the early, long hours and hard work, challenges, and sacrifices worthwhile.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Feeding people is my love language! It’s so gratifying to create and share high quality food, made from scratch, by loving hands.

I don’t believe there is really anything “new” in the world of baking and pastry, but I do believe that we can strive each day to make the best possible version of each treat, put our twist on a classic, create with seasonal inspiration and local ingredients, and keep growing and learning within our craft and our community of bakers.

It’s also an incredible honor to be included in so many meaningful moments of life. We’ve made birthday cakes for toddlers who are now teenagers; fulfilled final cravings for terminally ill customers, helped announce the arrival of babies, celebrated marriages, graduations, and holidays. Food is a universal language; I love having the opportunity to engage this tool of connection!

The road to the place I am today professionally is paved with triumphs and challenges of all kinds! I believe I’ve found more stability in my career as I’ve learned to accept and embrace my own limitations, recognized it’s both kind and fair to set boundaries and hold others accountable, and cliche though it may be, made self-care a priority. These things are critical to the sustainability and success of the bakery.

It took me 11 of the past 13 years to understand and truly embody the principle that I can’t effectively and joyfully fulfill my obligations in leadership, family, and community if I don’t fill up my own cup, along with those of others. Thankfully there’s so much more conversation, awareness, and implementation of self-care today than there was even a decade ago. I’m grateful to realize its importance as I move forward, and commend others who are early in their careers to take heed and take care! It will serve you, and those around you, so well.

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?
Oh, I would definitely take them to Little on Mountain for the best dinner in Fort Collins, Wolverine Farm for a beverage and a book on the sunny patio,
The Forge for an off the beaten path beer and live music,
Cafe de Bangkok and Uno Mas Taqueria for delicious ethnic food.

For outdoor fun Lory State Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the trail along the Poudre River. We have so much beauty in our backyard; I know I often take that for granted.

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?
My dad! He has been my greatest supporter, in every way imaginable, through my journey of dreaming, starting, and operating my bakery. He has taught me strength, resilience, kind-heartedness, persistence, hard work, and integrity. I am so fortunate to have him as my dad, mentor, and friend!

Website: www.thelittlebirdbakeshop.com

Instagram: the_little_bird_bakeshop

Image Credits
Spencer Hu Jenn Lewis Amy Corliss