Meet Anna Simeonides | Entrepreneur and Executive Pastry Chef

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

Hi Anna, how do you think about risk?
I’m a big fan of responsible risk taking. I think a lot of people never reach their full potential or pursue their passions because they’re scared. The way I see it, you’re already not doing “the thing”, so why not try? It can only get better. You truly miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. That said, you have to be smart about it. Do your research, build a foundation, weigh the pros and cons. Be intentional and do everything you can to set yourself up for success. If fear of failure is the only thing stopping you, you are your own biggest hurdle. Not a lot of people know this, but when I dropped out of college to pursue baking full time, I forfeited a very substantial scholarship. There was no way I could afford to go to such a stunning university on my own finances. At this point I didn’t even have the dream of a brick and mortar location. All I knew was that I loved baking – I loved bringing people joy through food. So I pursued that. When I opened my shop I emptied my entire bank account on that first months rent. I knew I had to make it – I didn’t have a choice. If you are committed to your dream and willing to put in the effort, grit and God’s grace will ensure your success.

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.
My culinary journey has had an unusual trajectory. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. You need to truly love and be invested in what you are committing to because it becomes deeply ingrained in your life. Especially once you open a brick and mortar and have several employees, it’s akin to what I imagine having a child is like – you are always juggling needs, wanting to cultivate the best environment possible, trying to stay relevant with the trends – your mind never sleeps. That said, it doesn’t take the toll you would expect because you are so passionate about the concept cultivated. Of course, burnout is inevitable in all things, so make sure to find what recharges you and pursue that with intention. I think one of the biggest challenges that I face is imposter syndrome. Because I am self taught, I really struggle to categorize myself as a professional. Also since my bakery is so niche (focusing on gluten free + vegan product), I feel as if I have some serious holes in my education as there are areas I have not had the opportunity to develop. I know deep down though the affinity for my craft is thriving and I will continue to learn every day. Food is such a fusion of art, science, and hospitality – there is always something new to learn + create and that is what I love about it most. I define success as cultivating joy in serving others. If you are accomplishing both of those things within your craft, you’ve made it. You are only as good as the people behind you and educating others is empowering. I want people to see the community, love, and intention behind our brand and our product.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I LOVE North Carolina! I grew up in Winston Salem and have always said it is the perfect balance of big city amenities with small town charm. It’s also ideally located where you can get to the ocean or mountains doing a day trip! If my bestie came to visit I would take them hiking in the Blue Ridge or at Hanging Rock State Park. The we would hit up Zito! Pizzeria and Grill for some Greek food and poutine. We could lounge at Chad’s Chai Tea House downtown and catch a live performance at Bailey Park. For dinner we would stop by Village Tavern or Barcelona Burger. We’d top it off with some sweet treats from To Your Health Bakery of course!

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?
I would not be where I am today if not for the love and support of my family and community. Specifically my mom was integral in the launch of my baking business. When I first began doing farmers markets and growing my clientele, I was also working in two other restaurants from 6am – 11pm to support myself and gain experience. I would bake for the markets after I got home and my mom would faithfully go set up, sell, and promote me. We juggled this crazy routine for months until I paid off my outstanding college tuition and committed full time to growing my business. I remember my parents sitting me down and telling me I didn’t have to go back to school – that if I wanted to pursue entrepreneurship they believed in my work ethic and supported me. I recognize how rare this scenario is and their endorsement was instrumental in giving me the courage to take the leap of faith to kickstart my journey. As I continued to grow and expand my mom was with me every step of the way; cleaning constantly, navigating legal documents and selling my pastries every weekend. I used to be so timid that I would have her call back my clients to help them place their orders haha! How far we have come. I’ll never forget a particular day we came home from the farmers market – we had sold out like never before. My operation had expanded to the point where I took over half of the house (kitchen, living room, dining room) from Thursday – Saturday just to sustain baking for the market. As we stood in the kitchen reflecting on success of the day, a unanimous agreement came to fruition – it was time for a real bakery.

Website: https://www.toyourhealthbakery.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toyourhealthbakery/?hl=en https://instagram.com/anna_the_baker_?igshid=MTNiYzNiMzkwZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Emma Manning Photography