Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiran Ledford.
Hi Kiran, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first started baking as a way to have fun and be create while in college studying Urban Planning. When COVID hit and we all moved online, I started to bake more consistently and discovered my passion for pastries. More specifically, I fell in love with the process of lamination. In 2021, I sought out jobs at local bakeries in the Kansas City area to gain first hand experience. Although I enjoyed my jobs working with others, there was always a pull to start a small business bakery where I was living in Liberty. What began as a cottage law bakery out of my small apartment kitchen in 2022 has continued to grow into a successful small scale bakery. Although I do not have a storefront, I sell wholesale around the Northland area and am excited to see what new opportunities come my way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I am typically a quiet and introverted person, however I quickly discovered that running a business requires you to be outgoing and friendly. Being social does not always come easily to me. I would love to stay in the kitchen and just work creating new pastries. Yet, one of the best things about a small business is the connections you create in the community. I have met so many wonderful people because of pop up events and farmers markets. These are people I would never have met if I did not follow through with my business and put myself out there.
Additionally, when I began my business I was a one woman operation. When I became pregnant with my daughter, I realized I would need to bring on someone else to assist in running my business while I took some time off for maternity leave. As any small business owner knows, it is extremely difficult to find help that is trustworthy and loves the job as much as you (the owner and creator of the business) do. I was extremely blessed to have my assistant baker, Becka, come into my life open and willing to learn whatever was needed to take over for a month while I was gone.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Rai’s Bake Shoppe specializes in artisan croissants. We are known for our buttery, flakey croissants and for trying out some fun, unique flavors. We do everything from bear claws, to morning buns, to kouign amann, to bicolored croissants, to what I call cross-section croissants (where you take sections of the dough, lay it on its side to show the lamination, then roll it so that the finished croissants have the vertical lines facing out). We are proud to create a product that not only looks beautiful, but also tastes delicious too. How I view it, an artistic baker can create something that looks beautiful, but an artisan baker creates something that looks and tastes equally as beautiful. Some of our more popular croissants are the cardamom pistachio morning bun, blackberry kouign amann, mocha almond croissant, tiramisu croissant bow, and savory goat cheese bear claw.
One thing that is unique to Rai’s Bake Shoppe is our monthly pastry box. It is a box that features three seasonal flavors in a variety of four types of pastries. Typically there is a laminated items (like a croissant), a cookie, a quickbread (like a cake), and a short dough pastry (like a pop tart pastry). This is a great way for us to experiment with new flavors and pastries, and to just have fun while baking. Customers enjoy the box because they are able to try new flavors or pastries they may not normally try.
What were you like growing up?
I have always loved cooking shows and competitions. In the 5th grade I asked for my first set of cooking utensils and knives so that I could practice my knife skills. I aspired to be as great a chef as the people I watched on the TV. Although I do enjoy cooking, baking ended up being my niche. I also loved being outdoors and spending time adventuring in the creek and wooded area behind my childhood home. Perhaps that had some influence in why I love incorporating herbs and natural flavorings into foods.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://raisbakeshoppe.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/raisbakeshopp
