Vendor Feature: Farina Baking Company
Photo courtesy of Farina Baking Company
Looking for a baking company that is known for couture baked goods? Check out Farina Baking Company. They recently joined the baking industry in 2014 and we are in love with their exquisite cakes and desserts {and the amazing service.} We had the opportunity to chat with Tracy Kohler, Head Pastry Chef and Owner of Farina Baking Company, to get insider details.
"We believe that all the little details matter.
Let us bake your day a little sweeter."
Tell us about Farina. What motivated you to start this business and where does the name come from?
Farina is a dessert based catering company that brings the sweetest treats to all of life’s most important events. We love providing custom cakes, dessert displays and custom sweets. The motivation behind Farina is fueled by a pure passion and a love of what I do! I wanted to create something that I would wake up every single day and be passionate about what I do, be excited to go to, create something that I was proud of and deliver something that made people literally smile! We pride our business with great thoughtfulness and creativity to each event that we do.
Farina is Italian for “Flour”. It was something I saw years ago while traveling through Italy with my husband. The name “Farina” just always stuck with me and when I started this business, my husband’s first question was…… “What are you going to name the company?” and without hesitation I answered “Farina”.
Graddy Photography Polly Mendes Photography
How did your passion for baking began? When did you realize that you wanted to turn this passion into a business?
You hear many bakers and pastry chefs tell you that they have been doing this for years or their love came from their childhood. I am a bit on the other side of the spectrum. My love of baking and pastries came a bit later in life. After I married my husband, I found my love in the kitchen. We would cook at home, travel and eat out quite a bit and I always envisioned myself in the kitchen. No one really understood it, I just always wanted to be the person behind the scenes creating vs. only receiving. At the time I was in Healthcare and on nights and weekends I would go work under various chefs in the Twin Cities. I enjoy the science behind it (I graduated with a Biology degree) and I enjoy the creativity and art behind it. After much discussion, I left my corporate position and worked in a bakery. About a year and half later a couple members of my community were telling me to go to farmers markets! Farina was essentially created and a business was born!
How has the business and its offerings evolved or expanded over the years?
The business has evolved immensely over the past couple of years! It started with our love of pastries and has become a passion for cake and wonderful tasting and presented sweet treats! It evolved the way it did because of our clients. Cake, cupcakes, mini desserts and cookies are automatically included in all types of celebrations. When our customer base requested it for their weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and showers, we started to fulfill the need and fell in love with it!
Photo courtesy of Farina Baking Company
What differentiates your cakes and desserts from other vendors?
I think Farina Baking Company is one of the few companies in our area that creates great tasting cakes and desserts, phenomenal designs and customizations, and a gratifying customer experience for every one of our clients. We truly pride ourselves in providing all of these elements to ensure your cake and desserts are the highlight of the celebration.
What was your favorite wedding cake to design? What makes it special to you?
That is so difficult to answer because all the wedding cakes we design and create are completed to be special, unique and representative of each couple and their celebration! But one that recently stands out that we created and designed was custom centerpiece cakes for the couple. They wanted each individual cake to lead up to the head table’s cake, incorporating each different element of design at every table! I truly loved working with this couple…. they were so passionate and excited about the cakes being such an integral part of their celebration!
Jody Savage Photography Photo courtesy of Farina Baking Company
What is your favorite cake flavor?
There are a couple that are on the top of my list! Our hazelnut cake came about from a couple that requested it and asked if I could give a try at it! They said they really wanted to incorporate Scandinavian elements in their wedding. I worked through a couple test rounds before coming up with one for them and they loved it and their guests loved it. With such wonderful feedback, we added it to our menu and it has become one of our most popular flavors. It is moist and has such a distinctive flavor with the slightest hints of coffee. I love it and our couples' eyes always light up during tastings!
But a second runner up would be our white cake with lemon buttercream and fresh raspberries. It is light and so refreshing and perfect for a summer wedding.
What is your most loved baked good?
It’s impossible to pick one!!! But I certainly love a French Macaron! They are the perfect size and sweetness that just hits the spot when you have a sweet tooth.
Tinyloud Printing Brand Photography
What kind of experience should couples expect when working with you?
When you come in for a design session, I will decipher your style and together, we will come up with something that is right for you and your celebration. I will sketch up designs to make you smile and get excited.
Quite possibly my favorite process is meeting with the couples for the first time. I love learning how they met, how the proposal happened & what they envision their event to look like. They will always feel welcome and let’s face it who doesn’t love cake!