Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Martorano-Bianchi.
Hi Gina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Delicatessen by Gina started after my daughter was born. (My second baby), While pregnant with her, I was diagnosed with a low-grade cancerous tumor on my back, the doctor said I needed to end the pregnancy in order to have my surgery right away and also said tumor was too big and the chances I walk again were very little. (The kind of cancer needed to be removed only by surgery, no chemo no radiation). Of course, I waited and 6 weeks after my daughter was born, I went through a 13 hrs. surgery, after that I need to recover, with a 2-year-old boy at home and a 6-week-old baby, I needed to be strong for them. When I was doing better I started to take some classes to become a Montessori teacher, I complete one part of the classes but the other part was pending until I fully recovery. In the meantime, I started to received dome orders, for a birthday party, then for a First communion, I was doing that to keep my mind busy. I started to receive more orders, baby shower, my first cake decorated with fondant, it was a lot of work, after that I said I won’t be doing cakes more, and I started to receive cake orders, and I thought well I guess I need to learn more about cakes, then cookies, it took me so long to do those cookies that I say the same thing, I won’t be doing it anymore, and I started receiving more and more orders. Even when I studied Culinary Arts in Uruguay, it was more like international kitchen, but not very deep into bakery, at least not cakes, cookies, and more, just the basics. So, I considered a self-taught in cake decorations, cookies, and all the other things I offer. I like challenges, so many times I have said yes, without knowing how I will be doing it. But I always find the way to make and to be happy with the results.
I have been now more than 6 yrs. with Delicatessen by Gina, learning something new every day, thankful for the people who like and trust my work, growing and planning what the next step will be.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. A lot of learning along the way. One of the main struggles I think is ‘Time “, having time to… specially at the beginning. When you are starting a business, a home-based business, you need to invest a lot of time in order to make it grow, in order to get out there with your products and get the people to know you, is a time that you are taking away from your family, from your kids,
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love my work; I love the artistic part of it. I do custom cakes, cake pops, cupcakes, hand-painted cookies and some other treats for any event.
Many friends described my cakes as a very “personal cakes”, I try to know what they like, what they enjoy and try to recreate it on a cake. I love when people gives me feedback and say ” it was not only beautiful but also delicious”, and I can say I receive those comment often, I love to see the people’s reactions when I deliver a cake, or cookies, or cupcakes,
I’m proud of my work in general because I do it with my heart, but a project that I’ve been enjoying is the “closing cookies”. Let me explain you when I started to decorate cookies I liked it but I didn’t love it. I needed to find a way to enjoy the process. I always loved to draw and to paint, so one day I started to experiment that on cookies and I really love the results.
When a friend who is a realtor started to order those cookies for his clients, at first, I made just the regular cookies, the house, the keys, etc, but I started to ask her for more information, so I started to paint cookies with the picture of the house they just bought, and then I started to ask her what the clients likes or how do they look, and I added that to the box.
the people who receive this cookies always said they can’t eat them,” to pretty to eat them”, they love seeing the house in a cookie, and sometimes seeing themselves or their pets painted in a cookie. While I’m painting this, I think about this person, or family, how happy they might feel having a new house.
I think that is what’s sets me apart from other very talented bakers, at least other that makes awesome cookies too.
I always try to give my special touch to every creation I make
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
My dream is to jump to the next level Having my little cozy and yummy coffee shop and I would love to see some of my products in local businesses, special the hand-painted cookies, and some other special cookies I make, I hope before 5 r 10 yrs. :))
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @Delicatessenbygina
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Delicatessenbygina
