Meet Jessica Lopez | owner, baker and cake decorator.

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

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I come from a family of risk takers. My parents took the risk of moving my siblings and I from our native Mexico. My parents are my heros who came to this country with nothing and have achieved so much. They are the reason why I take risks everyday, because they sacrificed so much for our family.

That’s why I chose to start my own baking business, Following your dreams is a big risk because in your head you have these big ideas, and they seem wonderful. Once these ideas are no longer ideas but reality it hits you like a sack of bricks. Am I really doing this? Am I doing this right? Will I be successful? The thing is to give yourself realistic goals. If it’s your passion and something you truly love, it’s worth the risk. Nothing in life is certain. Living in itself is a risk, might as well do what you love.

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.
Since a young age I have always known I wanted to be an artist. It was just a matter of finding the right medium for me. What better way than with food.

I have been cooking professionally for almost 10 years, I have restaurants and catering experience. It’s only been about a couple of years since I discovered my passion for baking and cake decorating. I never saw myself baking, it was always something super scary. My uncle got married and they asked me if I could make them a cake because I had shown interest in baking. I did it but I was very nervous of the outcome for I’d never made a cake before. It was really stressful but I pulled it off. Ever since then I was hooked. I would make cupcakes for family as practice and even started assisting the pastry chef at a previous job.

I consider myself a hard worker and I always give it my all to everything I do. I try to keep learning about baking, pastries and cooking in general. I love reading cook books and reading blogs about cakes decorating. A true cook never stops learning, there’s always something to learn.

For me the best part of cake making is when people see the cake I’ve created for them and they’re blown away. It makes me happy when people are excited about their cakes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First we would go to brunch at Annette’s at The Stanley market, one of my favorite places to eat. Then we would tour the thrift shops down Colfax and see what treasures we can find. Since we are on Colfax already we can head over to Twist and shout and look for records. Might as well got to Wax Tracks and also Chain
Reaction for more record shopping. For a night out we will get yummy drinks from Adrift or Retrograde. For a late night snack tacos from La Calle. We will take day trip to Bishops Castle. Some of my favorite places to eat, drink and shop.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shoutout my husband and my son who are my taste testers and biggest fans. My husband who will stay up all night doing dishes while I finish up decorating, I keep telling him I will pay him someday lol. My son who’s a food critic in training and always put everything I make on the menu.
My friends and family who have encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Thanks for being my first customers and giving good feedback.

And honestly anyone who has made it possible for me to follow this dream of mine. Thank you.

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