Meet Simone: Finding Beauty in the Details
Some people are drawn to pastry because they love baking. For Simone, it started with making something with her hands.
She enjoys the process of taking an idea from start to finish, balancing flavour with texture, and paying attention to the small details that turn a good pastry into a memorable one.
We sat down with Simone to talk about the morning bake, kitchen culture, and why every garnish should have a purpose.
What drew you to pastry/the kitchen in the first place?
I like working with my hands, making something from start to finish and the creativity of making something beautiful.
What’s your favourite part of the morning bake?
The mental organisation of making sure the oven is always filled, the slight rush (especially on weekends) to make sure all our products are finished beautifully and put in the cabinet on time… and an early morning coffee.
What’s one flavour or ingredient you always come back to?
Citrus.
What kind of food do you love eating on your days off?
I love Mexican food and trying new pastries whenever I’m out of town.
What’s something you care about in a kitchen culture?
Being able to trust and rely on your colleagues while also learning from and being inspired by each other.
What’s a pastry people should never underestimate because it looks “simple”?
Anything cross-laminated.
Coffee order?
Double shot almond latte.
What’s something working in bigger venues taught you that still shapes how you work?
Multitasking, and watching other chefs to learn tips and tricks you won’t learn from school or a book.
What kind of details matter to you most in pastry?
I’m big on textures and making sure every element has a purpose, even down to the garnish.
What drew you to Crumb specifically?
I liked that Crumb was doing something different with their pastries, with flavours that had unique combinations and were more technically advanced.
What makes a strong kitchen team in your opinion?
One kitchen mindset. Making sure everything is set up for the next day or next person just as you would like to walk into a set-up kitchen. Jumping in to help wherever it’s needed.
“I’m big on textures and making sure every element has a purpose, even down to the garnish.”
