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In 2017, Bola Ndifontah and Anwelli Okpue were planning their wedding on a budget, when Anwelli had the idea of baking their own wedding cake. Shortly thereafter, Wani Cakes was born to help cake-lovers celebrate life in all its flavors. Their plan was to develop a more cost-effective product and drive the message of celebration while building stronger communities.
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When most people retire, they plan on a work-free life of leisure. Not Alicia Gonzales. After 30 years working in community service, she retired at 60, then in 2008, she started her restaurant, Alicia’s Authentic Mexican Deli and Catering, serving authentic Mexican food. Fifteen years, it’s still going strong.
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If we’ve learned anything enduring the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that sanitation and personal hygiene are vital to the health and prosperity of our communities. Many services and products were born of this necessity over the past couple of years, including ROVE Soapsheets. Meet Tafari Roberts, CEO and creator of Rove Soapsheets, and learn how the company got it’s start in the midst of the pandemic.
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About a decade ago, Terrie Searer was browsing the aisles of a health food store and came across a bottle of vegan Parmesan cheese. “This tiny bottle was about ten dollars,” she recalls. After reading the list of ingredients, she thought, “Oh, I can make this myself.” She came home and went to work in her kitchen, experimenting with the different ingredients until she came up with a winner to create her signature product that started it all.
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Karma Spices began when Vinita Parekh crafted lentil packets with spices as a solution to her college-aged son’s snack cravings. Her son craved healthy and flavorful options as he attended school in California. Mom sent lentils and spices. They are non GMO, high in protein and can be mixed in yogurts, curry, salads or just popped into your mouth like chips - only more nutritious.
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Mr. Leslie’s Cheesecake is more than just a dessert. It is a product of passion, family, and hard work. We sit down with Marcus Leslie, to learn about his love for baking, how his father’s peach cobbler inspired him to become a master pastry chef, and how he’s achieving artistry in the form of cheesecake.
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Classique Gifts and Bakes is a Metro Detroit company that can bring out that feeling of inner comfort from anyone that tries their products. From muffins to cheesecakes, wedding cakes to tropical cookies. Classique does it all and they do it with an unmatched, deep passion for baking.
