Today we’d like to introduce you to Macarena Imperio.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Macarena. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Macarena. I was born in Salta, a city in the north of Argentina, with a colonial beauty in its architecture, very similar to the Spanish one and with unique landscapes. They call it “Salta, La Linda” which translates to “Salta, The Beautiful” and that’s why I chose to give that name to my business, in honor of my hometown. I am 27 years old, married and mother of an 18-month-old baby girl, Martina. I moved to Houston seven years ago. Since I was a little girl my favorite game was to make cookies with mom and dad. The passion for baking was always present in me and as I grew up, I kept making pastries and cakes for my friends and family, who always encouraged me by saying how good everything tasted. Even though I was baking just for family gatherings, I was always trying to get better since I am a perfectionist. When I got pregnant with Martina, I lost my job and since I had a lot of free time I started to bake more often and tried new recipes. My family were the toughest judges, giving me their honest opinion about it. They were also the ones that encourage me to make a living out of it. Before long, I had realized how much I had improved with practice. So, I decided to start my own business. I took my first step at the farmers markets selling alfajores. Hearing from people of different cultures saying that the flavor in my alfajores was magical, I knew it was the beginning of something really good. Most importantly, I was convinced of myself that I was going to do be able to do this!
Has it been a smooth road?
It was definitely not easy, but like all beginnings, the road is never smooth. Martina was born, I was still adapting to motherhood and a baby that depended 100% on me. On the other hand, I had a business that had also just been “born” and depended on me! I was going to bed late, getting up early, practicing my recipes as much as I could and working on my business many hours a day, and of course, Martina was with me all the time! It was not easy, but it was all worth it. I believe God gave me a wonderful gift and He has a purpose for me and my business. I did not study bakery, no one taught me how to do this, everything was based on trial and error and so was I. It took me some time to find the best quality of products, throwing away pastries and desserts because they were not as perfect as I wanted them to be. For a long time, my profit was nothing. I would sit down and ask myself many times if I was on the right path. In those moments, God renewed my strength every time and gave me peace, and I knew that if God was at the helm of the ship, everything was going to be okay.
Tell us more about the business.
My baking business has the goal to share with the world the delicious flavors from my country: Argentina. What I missed the most since I moved to Houston, was my people and the food. Therefore, my goal is to bring back the authentic Argentinian taste to many of us that miss it deeply. In every product I try to achieve the perfect combination of flavors using the best quality of products in the market. I never negotiate with quality and this is what makes La Linda stand out. Details make perfection. A small hidden stamp that will undoubtedly make a difference for my clients.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Today my main goal is to open a bakery shop, a lovely place where you can go and have a good time, choose what you like best with a good cup of coffee, or just buy what you want to enjoy at home with your family! I have customers in all different areas of Houston, so if God allows it, I will be able to be close to them as the business grows, and open other local shops. Even though sometimes is exhausting, it is all worth it when I receive the feedback from my clients. I keep hearing from them “I missed these so much!” or “your pastries bring me back memories, they taste exactly like in Argentina!”. These kinds of messages are the ones that fill my heart with so much love that keeps me going every day. I also want to leave a legacy for my daughter, something that she can have on her own and be proud of what mommy did for her. I am very happy doing what I do, I feel that I enjoy my work. Baking is my passion and I want to share my passion with the world. Remember: “Life is short eat desserts first”.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 8328339803
- Email: lalindainfo@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/lalinda.bakery/
- Facebook: Facebook.com/lalindabakeryanddesserts/
Image Credit:
“Melanie Imperio Design” and “Party Shots by martibirds”.
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