Founder and lead baker, culinary artist Dina Gilmartin first realized that she had a need to bake while taking a Home Economics class in High School. Not only was she at the top of her class, but she also received a award for outstanding ability in the culinary arts. She was going to school for early childhood education, but her work was so exceptional that they allowed her to accept this monetary prize that was generally awarded to students in the culinary field.
Baking connects Dina with her creative side. She has been baking for many years, and always strives for beauty, flavor and uniqueness in her creations, whether it’s crafting a Drunken Leprechaun, root beer float cupcake, or snickerdoodle cookies. Even before opening the bakery this past year, baking for others gave Dina a place and a connection to her community.
Not a natural risk taker, Dina, who works as a registered nurse by day, decided to open the bakery after becoming inundated with orders from friends and colleagues at work.
“I wanted to share my creations with the world,” she said.
Today her bakery is a place where people can go for what she calls a "small piece of heaven.”Dina’s favorite part is seeing the excitement her baked goods create in others.
“The best is when someone said to me, ‘I was having a really bad day until I ate one of your cupcakes,’” Dina said. “It’s an escape for just a moment. No matter how bad their day is going.”
As a mother of two young girls Dina prides herself on providing quality baked goods that aren’t full of preservatives, and offering options that are allergen and gluten free whenever possible so all children can taste the joy of a sweet sweet wonderland.
To Dina spirituality means connecting with her inner peace, and her creations certainly seems to come from a place of inner peace and beauty.
Find Dina in Northern NJ this weekend at the Mind Key Midsummer Festival. She will have a wide assortment of cupcakes and cookies, decorate-your-own-cupcake activity for the kids, and her brand new creation inspired by Charla's winning poem from Charlapalooza last month.
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