the story of bleu door bakery

my journey

When I was a little girl my Mom would take me  grocery shopping so I could buy boxes of  cake mixes with my allowance. I loved adding things to the mix to see what effect my additions made. Often times, the center of the cake bubbled up or the outer edges were over baked but I always loved seeing the smiles it put on my parents face when they tried my latest creation.  I can’t express in words how proud I am of this little bakery and how appreciative I am for all the support along the way. When my mother, Sally, comes to visit, she works alongside me making all kinds of fun desserts and now asks me “Can I Lick the Spoon?” Our sourdough starter is named “Mustang Sally” to remind me where it all began – with my Mom, in the kitchen, with a box of yellow cake mix……I love you Mom. B

So how did I go from experimenting in my mom’s kitchen to owning and operating my own restaurant? I decided to attend the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont to further my culinary career and, while there, rediscovered my passion for baking and pastries. After graduation I had the opportunity to be a chef on private yachts in the Eastern U.S. and the Caribbean. This was an adventure, both personally and professionally, and I gained a new excitement for different cuisines.

In 1993 I came on to the Portland restaurant scene, starting at Ron Paul Catering and Charcuterie. I spent years working in all aspects of the restaurant world including chef, manager, and supplier. Sweet treats remained my passion and in 2007 I created Brownies from Heaven, winning many awards for my unique creations.

In 2011 I leaped at the chance to open a small bakery and the Bleu Door Bakery was born! This gave me the opportunity to expand from just brownies to the items that I made with my mom back in her kitchen when I was a child as well as the varied and delectable confections I experienced during my travels.

I took another leap in 2015 and expanded the business to include a café with a larger and more diverse menu. The support that I receive from the local community has been incredible and humbling. I believe in supporting local and I am thrilled to be operating my dream business in Vancouver! We are located at 2411 Main Street, Vancouver WA 98660