Natalie Manzanares

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Natalie's earliest memories were of holiday celebrations with meals made by the whole family, and trips with her mother to local restaurants and bakeries around town. She often found herself curious as to what she was eating and where it came from. Inspired by her family and her food-centric hometown, she began experimenting in the kitchen with both sweet and savory dishes. It wasn't until after working at a restaurant during high school that she realized where her true passion lies...baking!

Following high school, Natalie moved to Northern Virginia. After living here for a year, she decided it was time to pursue her dream of becoming a baker. Realizing that in order to fully embrace her passion, she needed to learn the fundamentals and respect for the tools, so she enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America. In 2007, she graduated from the CIA in Hyde Park, New York with an Associate's Degree in the Baking & Pastry Arts. It was here that Natalie learned the importance of supporting local farmers and using fresh, high quality ingredients.

In 2013, she moved to Leesburg, Virginia, making delicious bakes from scratch using as many local and seasonal ingredients as  possible.