Today we’d like to introduce you to Keyla Ortiz.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Keyla. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I baked with my mom ever since I was a child. She would make our birthday cakes growing up and would decorate them for us. After several years of doing this, I started to help her more and more. We were self-taught decorators learning through YouTube, books, and eventually Pinterest! Although I “knew” that I wanted to pursue the medical field and become a doctor since grade 7, baking and creativity were always my true passion.
We ended up baking countless cakes & baked goods for family and friend’s birthdays, events, and holidays. It was kind of always expected that there would be a treat from us at our gatherings. I come from a Puertorican family so our go-to recipe was the vanilla rum cake. Later when I entered high school I fell in love with the French Macaron. It was like nothing I had ever tasted. It was delicate, small, perfectly sandwiched between a thin layer of filling… and tasted like heaven. I had no idea at that moment that I would have a macaron business one day. To be honest I never really had the courage or faith to do something “that crazy”. So instead I continued to pursue my health science degree at UCF.
Soon after I started college my mother got diagnosed with Celiac Disease. An autoimmune disorder (not an intolerance) where gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) affects the intestines. In other words, this meant that she couldn’t have gluten for the rest of her life. It was very sad news for us bakers. She always told me I could continue to bake regular wheat cakes when I had my own kitchen one day, but I just couldn’t. It wasn’t fair to me. There are so many options out there that already have gluten! I wanted to give those with dietary restrictions an option. I also didn’t want them to have to eat cardboard-tasting desserts! Funnily enough, the French macaron is already a gluten-free dessert because it is made with almonds. So we ended up focusing on them and falling in love with them more and more. It was a very tedious process though. This little French pastry is one of the hardest desserts to make according to many bakers.
There were times when we gave up and took long breaks, but after six years of on-and-off baking, failing, pursuing my degree, we finally found a way to make them work. Two years into my degree I pretty much hit rock bottom in my college career. I knew I didn’t want to be a doctor anymore. I surrendered my whole life and future to Jesus and asked for direction. I let go of “the wheel” basically. However, I never felt led to quit my degree. I knew that I had to finish what I started. Two years later I was closer to graduating, I fell down on my knees and asked God for confirmation. I asked him whether I should pursue this crazy dream or not. I finally got the confirmation I desired for so long.
It was December of 2017 and I started Dolce Memories Baking Co. with the help of my family and loved ones. I consider myself an old soul, so I decided to name my business based on my love for vintage memories, 40s-50s inspiration, Polaroids, and just having the opportunity of being part of customers’ most memorable events. I also used “Dolce” because the origin of the first macaron shell(before it became a sandwich) came from Italy, a culture that I’ve always felt a special connection towards. I have a passion for weddings, love, milestone events, color palettes, vintage memorabilia, and a strong belief that anything you do through Christ and for Him is valuable! I want to inspire others to know that every detail of their story has been ordained by a God who loves them and wants them to succeed more than they even do!
I don’t want my business to be profit-driven. I want to always balance the best quality ingredients with a great taste to honor my health background and the knowledge that I learned about the human body. Most of all, I want to use the blessings God has granted me and make a difference in other people’s lives. I will always point all of the glory to Him because the purpose is my number one motivator for this journey.
Today I am so blessed to say that this little business has been growing, catering to weddings, conferences, and many many other events. I am beyond thankful for all of the support of my friends, family, and household for supporting me every step of the way and for God’s grace each and every day!
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely has not been smooth. Like I mentioned before, French Macarons are one of the hardest pastries to make. It took years of throwing away hundreds and hundreds of batches in the garbage. I also struggled with doubt and fear of moving forward, but God has helped me grow through all of that. He is who I put my hope and trust in, especially after taking a few months off to recover from injuries and health issues. There was a point where I thought I was going to have to quit the business.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is home-based in Orlando, Florida. My mom is the woman behind the scenes who helps me bake and pretty much with everything. My father and brother also have helped me and have put on their aprons when my health issues and arm injuries were at their worst. I am most proud of making a product with the best possible ingredients and caring about aesthetics, packaging and customer satisfaction above profit.
Although I am not a fan of compliments, many of my friends compare Dolce Memories Baking Co. macarons to the ones they have tried in Europe. We also love baking gluten-free cupcakes made from coconut and/or almond flour. Petit desserts are our favorites.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I would love to visit San Diego one day! My father has been there and he absolutely adored the weather.
Contact Info:
- Website: dolcememoriesbaking.com
- Email: dolcememoriesbaking@gmail.com
- Instagram: dolcememoriesbaking
Image Credit:
The pink macaron cone with the grass background was taken by @rtwphotography_
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