We recently connected with Alexia Castaneda and have shared our conversation below.
Alexia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
Every kid says one of three occupations when asked the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The most common choice is usually a Doctor or a nurse, then a Police Officer, and lastly, a Veterinarian.
For me personally, I wanted to be a veterinarian. At least until the 8th grade. At the end of my 8th grade year, there was an after school meeting held by the school counselors inviting the students and their parents to come discuss high school classes. At my high school, there were different “concentrations” you could follow based on what your goals were for after graduation. These concentrations were basically a set of specific classes you could take throughout your high school career to help you get a job in that field or move forward in college. There were courses such as Animal Science, Computer Science, Business Law, Sports Medicine, etc. Before that meeting, my answer to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” had never changed. But that day, something just clicked. It dawned on me that I didn’t want to be a Veterinarian after all, despite my immense love for all things cute, fluffy, and cuddly. All my life I had been surrounded by the warmth of an oven, the sweet smell of vanilla, and the sound of a Kitchen-aid mixer whirring in the background. It never seemed clearer to me than in that moment. I just knew that I was destined for culinary school.
Alexia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hello lovely readers! My name is Alexia Castaneda and I’m a pastry chef, home baker, and Culinary Institute of America Alumna.
My journey to small business owning begins at home, starting in early childhood. Growing up I was surrounded by cakes, cupcakes, cookies, etc. Nearly every weekend my mom was working on at least one order. I would always watch her work, ask questions, and remember every little detail I could. Even now, as an adult I look back on every memory and pull any information I can from it to help me build my skills.
When I got into middle school, I started baking small cakes for my friends on their birthdays. My mom would help guide me and step in when needed but for the most part she let me work on my own. In high school, I started taking culinary classes and started building my skills and knowledge on the savory side as well as continuing to strengthen my baking skills. At this point I wasn’t selling anything on my own yet. In December my mom would set up a booth as a local vendor at the annual “Christmas Downtown” event. One year, I decided to join her and sell my own items alongside hers. That was my very first introduction into owning a small business. From then on I sold items for major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. My mom was always an integral part of these holiday sales. I couldn’t have done them successfully without her. I continued these sales into college and would start on what I could in San Antonio and finish what was needed when I got home to Big lake. Now that I’ve graduated from school and work a full time job, I take on orders from San Antonio, Big Lake, and the surrounding areas. I always find a way to make it work!
My mom owned a small business for as long as I can remember. She started her baking career in her mid-twenties, while she was pregnant with me. She loved to joke that I absorbed her skills in the womb. My mom always had a full time job on top of managing her small business. She was very well known for her work and dubbed herself a “self-taught buttercream cake artist”. Other than being known for her beautiful and delicious cakes, my mom was also known as hard working, humble, and giving. She worked until she absolutely couldn’t. In August 2021, my mom contracted Covid-19 and unfortunately passed away. She still had unfinished orders in her cake fridge.
My mom is my sole inspiration for starting my own business, pursuing culinary school, and obtaining my degree in Baking & Pastry. Without her, I wouldn’t be where or who I am today. I have her to thank for everything.
I established my brand “Vintage Soul Pastries & Confections” in 2020. The whole idea behind my name is that warm, often bittersweet, nostalgia you experience when you take your first bite of a homemade pastry. When people hear my name, I want them to think “just like my momma made it, but better”!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
My favorite part of my job is seeing all the smiles I am able to put on peoples faces through food. All the comfort, all the laughter and special memories, it all makes my job worth doing over and over again.
And eating all the leftovers of course!
How did you build your audience on social media?
I don’t have much of a social media presence (yet) but I can say that the little audience I do have is mainly people I am connected to. Whether that be personally, professionally, or otherwise, I can say that your connections and word of mouth referrals can and will take you a long way. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and make some friends! Especially in high places.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Vintage.soul13