Today we’d like to introduce you to Kajsia Belingheri
Kajsia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I found a love for baking when I was in High School. I loved to come home and watch The Food Network and try new recipes on the weekends. My first job in college was at a local cafe/bakery. I started there as dishwasher and worked my way up to being a baker. The head chef/manager there inspired me to look into culinary school. I got into a local culinary school here in Utah and graduated with my associate’s degree in Culinary Arts. I knew I wanted to pursue baking and wanted to learn beyond Culinary school. I applied to do an internship in Ireland and was accepted the summer after I graduated in 2011. I spent the summer in a bakery in Dublin and learned a lot of different techniques and recipes.
From there any job I had was in a bakery and continually learned and trained along side great people. I knew I eventually wanted to own my own bakery or cafe.
In 2013 I got hired at The Chocolate as assistant baker. I was then promoted to head baker in 2014 and lead a team of bakers in the kitchen. I worked directly under the founder in creating recipes with her. In 2016 I had my first daughter and left the kitchen, I knew I wanted to continue working at The Chocolate and was able to work up front in the cafe portion and eventually was promoted to manager. I also took on the catering portion of the business taking charge of cake tastings, wedding cakes and setup.
During this time I was in the works of creating my own brand and looking into starting up my own bakery.
In 2018 the founders of The Chocolate decided to sell and came to me and my husband as first option to purchase. I had been working directly under her for years, I knew a lot of the business side and of course the baking side, it made sense to pursue this option.
In the beginning of 2019 we were officially the new owners of The Chocolate. My husband, Brett, went in on this with me 50/50 and we have loved continuing what The Chocolate started as, as well as bringing in our own touches and recipes. We love being able to be the place to have everyone come enjoy scratch made desserts and be able to celebrate what is going on in their lives.
Since becoming owners we have had 2 more children and this has become their second home as well.
We are excited to continue bringing the joy of desserts to everyone in the area.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our first year of ownership was 2019, we got through the year learning the business and getting our feet on the ground. The next year was obviously 2020 and we know how that went. For us it was a different learning curve then it normally would have been. We feel very lucky that we were able to stay open the whole time. It definitely came with the difficulty of ingredient shortages or limits on how much you could buy at a time. Which we are still going through to this day. There was a labor shortage at one point and I was in the kitchen more baking, Brett took on cafe shifts as well. We both stepped in whenever and wherever there was a gap that needed to be filled.
In general as a business owner we run into different problems where we have to adapt our schedules last minute or spend money on fixing or replacing something we weren’t expecting to break.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Chocolate is a dessert cafe in a historic farmhouse where there are different rooms with tables, couches and cozy areas to enjoy a dessert. We have 2 locations, Orem and West Jordan. We are known best for, The Cazookie, hot baked cookie with ice cream on top and Cake By the Slice, we have 3 signature flavors available all the time and 2 weekly flavors we rotate through.
We love hosting girls nights, family time, bridal and baby showers, first dates and more. One of my favorite things to hear, is a couple came here for their first date and has contacted me to do a proposal.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I have loved being able to have this business as my creative outlet. I love coming up with new recipes and flavor combinations to have everyone enjoy. It means so much to me when I get to hear how someone loved their order or had a great night with friends.
One of my favorite things to hear, is a couple came here for their first date and has contacted me to do a proposal.
There are definitely pros and cons to owning your own business, especially in the food industry. It is hard and I will never sugar coat that, but truly rewarding. I have made so many new friends and connections because of the opportunities I have had with this business that I would never had other wise.
Pricing:
- Cazookie: $12-15
- Cake Slice: $6.95
- Whole Cakes: $30-73
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thechocolate.cafe/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechocolate_adessertcafe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechoco/
