Despite busy schedules and all due to the upcoming holiday rush, I managed to sit down with one of the partners of the newly opened Kerri’s Bakestop (literally a stop to drop by before one starts to bake).
Marites Tan, or Tess as she is known to family and friends, caught the baking bug late last year. Through her cousin-in-law, Caroline Tan, Tess met Kerri Gail Ong who happened to be an instructor for the Philippine School of Culinary Arts located in Banawa. Kerri taught her cake decorating, which got her hooked on baking. Soon after, Tess, Caroline and Kerri decided to venture into business together, as they realized that there wasn’t a lot of baking ingredients store in Cebu.
Thus, Kerri’s Bakestop was born, an inviting little store wherein homebakers and hobbyists can browse through baking ingredients sourced from Manila, elegantly themed packaging materials, and other related materials for baking. The Bakestop also offers made to order fondant cakes for weddings and birthdays. Kerri herself also conducts baking lessons based on requests from clients.
Tess further shares that for this holiday season, they have prepared for their clients: fresh stocks of themed boxes for goodies (from Manila); different types of chocolates and confectioneries, such as marshmallows and sprinkles; 1883 flavored syrup for entertaining; and for those who are into fruitcakes, they have glazed fruits and nuts available.
Tess also added that people’s impression of the Bakestop is one that it is an expensive store; on the contrary, she reveals that their prices are fair and competitive. Aside from their existing clientele, they hope to get more institutional accounts, as well as penetrate the out of town or provincial markets. In addition, for next year, they hope to have an additional instructor to cater to the increasing requests for baking lessons. Aside from fondant cakes, they are looking into offering more variety of baked products in the store.
There seems to be a lot in store for Kerri’s Bakestop for next year…meanwhile…Happy Holidays!
For baking inquiries, you can drop by Kerri’s Bakestop, Tango Plaza Building, Queens Road (across Redemptorist Church) or call (032) 253-8877.