Paola Velez
EducationLe Cordon Bleu
OccupationPastry chef
OrganizationBakers Against Racism

Paola Velez (December 16, 1990) is a pastry chef and social justice activist from New York with Dominican heritage. She has worked for restaurants such as Milk Bar and Maydan in Washington, D.C., and she co-founded the organization Bakers Against Racism, as well as the donut pop-up shop Doña Dona in 2020.[1][2]

Early life

Velez grew up in The Bronx, New York.[3] Her mother worked as an accountant for the Tex-Mex restaurant Mary Ann’s, which was owned by her mother’s cousin.[4][5] She spent her childhood summers visiting her grandparents at their family home in the Dominican Republic.[5] During her summers spent in the Dominican, she gained an appreciation for fresh produce, learning how to grow her own vegetables and fruit, and experiencing her grandmother’s home cooking.[5]

Personal life

Velez moved to Washington, D.C., in 2016 with her husband Hector Velez.[1][6][7]

Career

Velez was educated at Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando, Florida.[5][7] After graduating in 2009, Velez studied for two years under Jacques Torres, an expert in the chocolate industry, at his factory in Brooklyn, New York.[1][7][8] Velez moved from New York to Washington, D.C., in 2016 to work as a pastry chef at Milk Bar under chef Christina Tosi.[1][7] With her gained experience, Velez transitioned to the position of Lead Pastry Cook at D.C. restaurant Arroz.[1][9] She also functioned as the pastry chef for the Iron Gate Restaurant in 2018, and for Kith/Kin in 2019.[1][9] Velez led the kitchen at Compass Rose and Michelin-starred Maydan while serving as the restaurant’s Executive Pastry Chef.[1][9] After being furloughed during the Covid-19 pandemic, Velez joined Food&Wine Magazine to create the online streaming show, “Pastries with Paola, '' in which she shares recipes inspired by her Dominican heritage.[8][10]

Activism

In April of 2020 Velez co-founded the donut pop-up shop Doña Dona with Daniella Senior, founder of the Cuban cafe Colada Shop and the cocktail bar Serenata.[9][11] Doña Dona raised around $1,100 that was donated to Ayunda D.C., an organization providing social and legal support for D.C. immigrants.[2][12] After Doña Dona’s success, Velez co-founded Bakers Against Racism, a movement raising money for racial justice organization through baking, with pastry chef Willa Pelini.[2][7] Velez also enlisted chef Rob Rubba to create graphic designs to garner support for the organization over social media.[2] Through their posts, the chefs were able to virtually gather bakers from across the country to create their own bake sales supporting racial justice advocacy.[2] Since its launch in 2020, Bakers Against Racism has gained more than 3,000 participants in over 200 U.S. cities and raised over $2 million for organizations supporting Black Lives Matter.[1][13] Bakers Against Racism has been recognized as the largest bake sale in history, raising millions of dollars.[14]

Awards

2021 Food & Wine Best New Chef[1][4]

2021 InStyle 50 Women Making the World a Better Place[1][15]

2021 Time Out Magazine Woman of the Year[1][16]

2021 Washington Business Journal Diversity in Business Award Winner[1][17]

2020 James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef Finalist[1][18]

2020 Esquire Pastry Chef of the Year Winner[1][19]

2020 Washingtonian Magazine 100 Best Winner[1][20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "SMALL ORCHIDS". SMALL ORCHIDS. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Davis, Wynne. "Bakers Against Racism Aims to Fight Injustice with the Power of Food." NPR, Jun 20, 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/06/20/881075595/bakers-against-racism-aims-to-fight-injustice-with-the-power-of-food.
  3. ↑ Chambers, Veronica (18 August 2021). "Baking the World a Better Place". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Food & Wine Best New Chefs 2021". Food & Wine. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Bakers Against Racism with Co-Founder Paola Velez." Podcast, Radio Cherry Bombe, Jun 19, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Register". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rising Star Chef Nominee Co-Creates Bakers Against Racism, Uplifts Young Chefs Of Color". www.wbur.org. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Paola Velez Is the Empathetic Leader the Industry Needs". Food & Wine. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Hayes, Laura (16 July 2020). "The 2020 Food Issue: Change-Makers in the D.C. Food System". Washington City Paper. ProQuest 2459644774.
  10. ↑ "Pastries With Paola". Food & Wine. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Medora, Sabrina (30 April 2020). "Kith/Kin's Star Pastry Chef Will Run a Pop-Up for Doughnuts With Dominican Flavors". Eater DC. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "About Us | Ayuda". Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Bakers Against Racism". Bakers Against Racism. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  14. ↑ "Pastry Chef Hosts World's Largest Bake Sale & Raises Millions in Fight Against Racism". www.msn.com. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  15. ↑ "50 Women Making the World a Better Place in 2021". InStyle. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  16. ↑ "11 Women Who Changed the World In the Last Year". Time Out United States. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  17. ↑ "Register". www.bizjournals.com.
  18. ↑ Burton, Monica (4 May 2020). "Here Are the 2020 James Beard Awards Restaurant, Chef, and Media Finalists". Eater. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  19. ↑ "Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America, 2020". Esquire. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "Find DC's Best Restaurants - Washingtonian". 15 February 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
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