Meet Annaly Cruz Sotolongo | Pastry Chef and Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annaly Cruz Sotolongo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annaly, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My business: Any Pâtisserie, is dedicated to making unique cakes. It started as a homemade plain yogurt venture. It was difficult to get to the source of my desire. It started in the middle of the pandemic and my Chemistry Phd. I started creating my Instagram page and study a pastry career.
I like that people can have in their events that cake that they imagine. I create from the flavor to the design following the desire and what the client transmits to me.
Promoting healthy eating is important to me. A dessert can be healthy and still taste good. My business offers vegan flavors. We use unrefined sugars, whole grains and nut flours. We don’t use preservatives. Natural flavors are our priority.
I want to give pastry classes accessible to all those who want to learn. Both for those who want to do it at home or for those who want to start their own business.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I started Any Pâtisserie my daughter was only 1 year old. My husband was far away at the time. I started creating my Instagram page. Then I was able to pay a community manager to grow my community and get more customers. Entrepreneurship is hard, there are a lot of bad days where you don’t think you should continue. You have to know how to manage networks, you have to learn how to communicate and set clear boundaries with your customers and in your personal life. I learned that you have to do what you love. Doing what you think will sell doesn’t work. You don’t put as much effort into something that you don’t want to do and you don’t grow. I would like transmit art. Create unique cake in sugar paste and chocolate. I want to give pastry classes. I want moms at home with their kids to know that they can do it and that they are not alone. There are a lot of us out there trying to find our way and not get lost.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The mountains would be my favorite place in Denver. There are a lot of beautiful places to hike. Like Clear Creek Canyon, Cherry Creek Valley, and Golden Gate Canyon. Rocky Mountain National Park is where we would spend a few days. The downtown is very nice. The Museum of Illusions would be a sure thing. A concert at the Red Rocks if we are lucky. If it is spring, the Botanical Garden. For food I would choose a taco place, Yard House and Central Market. Izzio Barkery is delicious.

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 sister Elianny encouraged me to start offering my products on social media. I didn’t know where to start. She was also one of my first clients, always giving me support.
My teacher Andrea Blanco, from the Islas Malvinas International School in Mendoza, Argentina. She showed me the best flavor combinations I tried. She transmitted to me her love for teaching. So much so that I myself decided to be a creative pastry teacher.
My husband has always been with me in this process and is my greatest inspiration when it comes to creating a new cake.

Instagram: @any_patisserie

Youtube: @any_patisserie

Image Credits
Fabio Martinez
@fabio.m.fotografo