We caught up with the brilliant and insightful La Porchanae Green a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, La Porchanae thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I first realized I wanted to pursue Pastry when I learned how to make ice cream cakes. I was very much always into artistry because I wanted to be a interior designer for homes and cars. When I decided that I wanted to go to college, I doubled majored in both interior design and baking and pastry, however I leaned more towards baking and pastry really because they had a chocolate class lol, and I thought it was the dopest thing.
La Porchanae, 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?
My name is La Porchanae most people know me as Chef P or Porcha and I am from Los Angeles, California. I first got into the baking and pastry industry through my ex boyfriend’s aunt, and my grandmother. The first things I learned was how to make was a sweet potato pie from my grandmother Sandra’s recipe and also how to make ice cream cakes and cookies out of cake mix from Ms. Jimmie. Once I learned how to make those things I felt as if I could do more so I in rolled in Long Beach City College Baking and Pastry program under Chef Pierre. The program was 2 1/2 years so I graduated with the Baking and Pastry certificate, and a degree. I gained accolades, from the city of Los Angeles to being able to work for and closely with the cake boss, Chef Buddy Valastro, The Soho house, Disneyland just to name a few profound places with whom I had the pleasure of working for. I’ve learned how the business goes behind the scenes, not just the fun part of decorating cakes and pastries and putting smiles on peoples faces but I decided that it was time to start a business. I started off with Pastry Creations while I was in college and until I decided to change the name of my business to what it is known as today as Soooo Stuphed. Soooo Stuphed specializes in all deserts, both stuffed and un-stuffed concoctions that are mind blowing and beautiful like stuffed apples, dessert egg rolls, dessert nachos, specialty cookies, cakes, pies and candies and etc. A lot of my customers always want to find luxury desserts at a reasonable price, so I make sure that I am able to provide them with such a service that they will come back. We pride ourselves on having outstanding customer service and speedy turnaround times when it comes to cake orders treat orders and etc.. Most businesses lack excellent customer service, and I vowed to myself and my team that we would not fall in that category. Customer service is number one in our company if we don’t have that then we don’t have nothing. What I am most proud of with my brand is that I was able to quit my 9-to-5 job, and solely run my business from home during the pandemic, and make a full income to take care of my household. My acknowledgment in the Nashville voyager for my accomplishments on the baking and pastry industry. Operating my brand has had its good times, bad times, slow time, fast times, basically the good bad and the ugly. Entrepreneur ship is definitely not for the weak but you definitely can’t give up. You have to keep pushing through all the obstacles. And know that the grass is definitely greener on the other side.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
So back in October 2022 I was involved in a domestic dispute with a cousin who abuse me physically and verbally to where there was a lot of threats to me about guns, killing me, and blowing my head off in front of my son, where I had to call the police and live out of my car and a hotel for five months, which put a damper on my business. I didn’t let that stop me although I felt broken, my confidence was shattered, it wasn’t just about my confidence. It was also about my physical appearance. I remember just breaking down in my hotel room after everything and praying to give me strength to move on and did not give up and I managed to still run my brand inside of my hotel room from meal preps to cake and treats, until one day I decided that I wanted more so I picked up and packed my car with everything that I had and I decided that I was moving to Vegas and since then it has been the best decision for me and my brand.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My aspiration to continue to push my business has been driven by my son and the people who have always believed in me. Really just putting smiles on peoples faces and knowing that I have provided them with some sweet treats that reminds them of everything about childhood and fun, really move me and drives me to push myself more and more. My goal is and it has always been my number one goal is to have a big shop in every state and I’m not gonna stop until that happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soooostuphed.com
- Instagram: @soooostuphed
- Facebook: Soooostuphed