Meet Maricela Martinez | Baker, cake designer, cake decorator

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

Hi Maricela, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in California, but raised in Meoqui, Chihuahua Mx. When I was little my mom used to make our birthday cakes! I remember sitting next to her just to watch the process (my first memory was when I was around 5 years old) . Of course, the decoration was my favorite.

I worked in schools for 10 ten years and initiated making cakes as a side job (11 years ago). I found out that cakes could be more versatile and I could combine many things that I really enjoy such as baking and modeling!

When my second daughter was born many things changed. I stopped working as a teacher and dedicated myself to my cakes and my family. Eventually, we moved to Denver in 2017, things were really rough at the begging because I started all over again. My husband stayed at home taking care of our daughters while I was working as a teacher assistant for DPS, but money was not enough so I decided to retake my cakes. At the beginning, my customers were close friends and family, and thanks to their recommendations my business began to grow.

I decided to take a business course at Mi Casa Resource center where my business plan got the first place, but I always want more so I enrolled in Emily Griffith Culinary Art’s program and then to the Professional Baking. That was an amazing experience where I met a lot of people and learned many things.

People have been so nice and wonderful in this city that, 4 years later, my business has had so much acceptance.
For the moment, I work from home, but eventually I would like to open my own brick and mortar bakery (someday in a short future).

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Modeling and painting have been in my life since I was a child, but I always did it as a hobby. When I graduated from high school my parents could not afford college so I moved to El Paso Texas, where I started English classes (funny thing that I was born in California and learned English when I was 19 😅).
I got a full time job in a fast food restaurant and lucky me, that I got a scholarship to attend the university of Texas at El paso. I was working my hardest to get good grades in order to keep my scholarship and make money to pay rent, food, gas, etc.
I was a young adult with a lot of responsibilities, but I always knew that I wanted to be more in my life and giving up was not an option. There were parties, reunions with friends that I missed. When they planned trips I couldn’t go. There are sacrifices that you have to make if you really want to succeed.
Life is great if you set a purpose, an objective. Focus in what makes you happy so you can enjoy the ride and don’t regret about anything.
I always say to my daughters “think in what it will make you happy while doing it, in the career you want to marry for the rest of your life so you don’t waste your time, your money and your effort in it”
I ended up being a baker and, although is not easy (a lot of time consuming) I can tell you that this is my real passion!

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.
Omg 😆 hahaha… I love Denver, but when my family or friends come to visit the first table they sit on is in my house! I love to cook for other people! Traditional Mexican food from scratch… mole, tortillas, tres leches cake, churros! My husband and I are super huge fans of video games so we love to go to 1up bar and play arcades while having a beer. We also love to walk in downtown or to go to local bars!
Hiking and paddle boarding are something that we have been doing lately and it so amazing and relaxing after a long week of hard work.
And when there are good concerts, of course we don’t miss one! Here you have a Tool, Ministry and Manu Chao fan 😅

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I couldn’t be where I am right now without my mom. I love cooking an baking because of her. Also, I would like to say that I am so thankful for having such an amazing husband. He supports every of my single crazy ideas and always shows me how much he believes in me.