Izzy’s interest in cooking blossomed as a way to spend time with their mom, but their passion truly took off during quarantine when they had ample free time and wanted to return the favor of making good food for their mom. When Izzy isn't rock climbing or learning how to play the drums, they love to bake in their free time. They have always had a passion for baking and have wanted to develop their skills in croissant making. Izzy saw the opportunity at Butter Lover Bakeshop as a chance to explore the culinary field and see if it’s something they want to pursue more seriously after high school. Under the guidance of Chef Esa Yonn-Brown, they delved into this passion.

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Right away, Izzy hit the ground running, making brownies, carrot cakes, lemon blueberry muffins, and their personal favorite—croissants. They were especially excited about honing their croissant-making skills. During their time at Butter Love Bakeshop, Izzy improved their folding techniques and developed the ability to measure ingredients more accurately by eyeballing, such as rolling out cinnamon rolls evenly and scooping muffins. Along with enhancing their baking skills, they deepened their bonds with coworkers, especially Lea and Mia. Their shifts were filled with mentorship and discussions about their week.Izzy has taken what they learned from the program and started baking more avidly at home for their family and friends. So far, they have made Nutella-stuffed croissants and brown butter cookies.

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This internship has helped them explore their interest in cooking and has also developed their people skills, which they can apply in many areas of their life. Izzy expressed that this internship has helped them come out of their shell in a way that has been transformative for them.