Celebrity Gourmet Podcast

Deborah Tuggle is the Owner and President of Bite Me! Cookies, a manufacturer of clean-label and high-indulgent cookies that sell for wholesale and retail. Deb's first bakery, Friday's Cookies, was an ode to her college days when she sold homemade cookies on campus every Friday. In 2004, Deb purchased Bite Me! Inc., merging the two brands under the moniker Bite Me! Cookies. The cookies are sold in...

Becky Palermo is the Co-owner of Creative Cakes, a Chicagoland-based bakery specializing in gourmet pastries, including cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, brownies, tarts, macarons, and donuts. In 2002, Becky and her sister, Beth, purchased Creative Cakes 10 years after the original owners hired Becky as a cake decorator. By 2005, the sisters moved the shop to a larger space in Tinley Park, IL. With Be...

Canadian-born baker Bronwen Weber is the Co-owner and Chief Designer of Bronwen Cakes, a Dallas-based bakery specializing in cake design. Bronwen is a 30-year cake-decorating veteran who started baking in her grandmother's kitchen at 14 years old. Her resume includes many facets of the baking industry, including roles as an executive chef, general manager, baking consultant, and pastry chef instru...

Megan Wagstaff is the CEO of Lady Yum, a Washington state-based pastry shop specializing in assorted-flavored macarons. She began her love affair with baking as a child growing up in a remote Alaskan village. After a brief career in investment banking, Megan followed her heart to open her dream bakery shop. Her adoration for baking and champagne inspired her macarons concept. Lady Yum has six loca...

Marlene Goetzeler is the President and Owner of Freeport Bakery, a 40-year-old Sacramento-based bakery specializing in cakes, danishes, and German-style pretzels. With her husband Walter, Marlene and her staff grew the bakery into an award-winning business and Sacramento staple. She is an active member of the Retail Bakers of America, where she served as president from 2014-2016. In this episode…...

Patti Stobaugh is the Owner of PattiCakes Bakery, a Central Arkansas-based pastry shop serving European-style cookies, cakes, and pies. Patti left her corporate accounting job in 2005 to start what she calls her "encore career" as a bakery owner. The first PattiCakes opened in Russellville in 2006. Later, she decided to close it to concentrate on the Conway flagship store. PattiCakes is frequently...

Odette D'Aniello is the Founder and CEO of Celebrity Cake Studio, a family-owned and operated retail cake boutique. The company has received numerous awards, including winning Best of Western Washington several times. Experienced in the food industry, business strategy sales, and marketing, Odette has obtained additional skills in product design and brand development, event management, and team bu...

Olga Sagan is the Owner of Piroshky Piroshky Bakery, a Seattle-based company serving original recipes and handmade baked products for over 30 years. Under Olga's leadership, Piroshky Piroshky continued to expand locations and partnerships. She is a serial entrepreneur and experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the food and beverage industry. Olga is also a candidate for Seatt...

Natalie Bleifuss is the Owner of Pie Bar, a Seattle-based dessert bar specializing in sweet and savory pies and craft cocktails. Since launching in 2013, Natalie has expanded her business, opening multiple storefronts and food trucks. She is passionate about supporting women in business, offering female employees opportunities to franchise their own Pie Bar location. In this episode… What are you...

Katie Poppe is the Co-founder and CEO of Blue Star Donuts, a gourmet donut concept utilizing fresh herbs, spices, fruits, and liquors to appeal to pastry lovers of all ages. Katie was also the Co-founder of multiple acclaimed restaurants, including Boxer Ramen, Boxer Sushi, and Little Big Burger — which sold for $6.2M in 2015. She is an industry leader known for her expertise in brand innovation,...

Odette D'Aniello is the Founder and CEO of Celebrity Cake Studio, a family-owned and operated retail cake boutique. The company has received numerous awards, including winning Best of Western Washington several times. Experienced in the food industry, business strategy sales, and marketing, Odette has obtained additional skills in product design and brand development, event management, and team bu...