Mother’s Day comes once a year, but for mother-daughter teams who run bakeries together, every day is sweet
Compiled by Rich Pollack and Mary Thurwachter
Michelle Gingold, Monica Martinez and Melisa Gingold work at Del Sol Bakery in Boynton Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Del Sol Bakery
1600 N. Federal Highway, Suite 15, Boynton Beach
After graduating from culinary school, Michelle Gingold worked in restaurants and hotels before starting Del Sol Bakery, bringing her mother and sister onboard to help run the business.
Mother: Monica Martinez, 56, Pompano Beach
Daughters: Michelle Gingold, 28, Delray Beach, and Melisa Gingold, 26, Lantana
How long we’ve been working together:
Michelle: Two years.
Roles in the business:
Michelle: Owner and baker.
Monica: General manager overseeing the business, including finances, booking and managing wholesale accounts.
Melisa: Bakery assistant, working the front of the house, making deliveries and helping with marketing.
Best part of working with my daughters:
Monica: Building Michelle’s dream bakery from the ground up and having Mel joining her sister in this rollercoaster ride. Three strong women working together … ay, ay, ay!
Best part of working with mom:
Michelle: My mom was living in Argentina when I started Del Sol, now I get to see her every day.
Best part of working with my mom and sister:
Melisa: The best part of working with family is constant and consistent time together.
Best thing I’ve learned from working with daughters/mom:
Monica: I’m a very proud mom. I have raised two amazing girls that are making it all happen, at their pace, in their own way.
Michelle: My mom helped me from the very beginning with the business plan, managing employees and structuring the business.
Melisa: I have learned that my sister is very young to be owning and operating her own bakery. I’ve learned that my mom is good at accounting.
Favorite thing to eat that’s baked in the shop:
Monica: I love the baguettes.
Michelle: My favorite thing to eat is a warm scone with butter in the morning before anyone gets to the bakery.
Melisa: My favorite things to eat are chocolate chip cookies.
Plans for Mother’s Day on May 13:
Monica: Hopefully, get some delicious bread, brie, something sweet and prosecco, mimosas … and flowers!
Michelle: Delicious brunch with mimosas on the beach celebrating with my mom and family.
Melisa: Our Mother’s Day plan is not to work and spend just the morning together at the beach.
Debbie Wexler sneaks a treat as she bakes with daughter Zoey Wexler at Two Fat Cookies in Delray Beach. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Two Fat Cookies
245 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach
Started in a commercial warehouse six years ago by Debbie Wexler, Two Fat Cookies now has a retail outlet in Delray Beach while continuing a wholesale business. Debbie continues to bake while daughter Zoey focuses on cake decorating.
Mother: Debbie Wexler, 60, Delray Beach
Daughter: Zoey Wexler, 31, Boca Raton
How long we’ve been working together:
Debbie: Five-plus years.
How we got started baking together:
Debbie: When I was pregnant rolling dough! But really, Zoey had her hands in the batter since she was 5.
Zoey: Before I moved to upstate New York for work, I would come in to help at Two Fat Cookies. A few years later, as Two Fat Cookies was growing, I moved home to help run the business.
Favorite thing to bake:
Debbie: French galette, a butter cookie that I can make in any shape that you could imagine.
Zoey: I love creating different cupcake flavors.
Best part of working with my daughter:
Debbie: Watching her creativity flourish.
Best thing about working with my mom:
Zoey: Knowing that no matter what, we have each other.
Plans for Mother’s Day:
Debbie: Having my dearest friends and family at my home.
Zoey: I am going over to my parents’ house to spend the day with friends, family and extended family.
Giovanna Cimino with daughter Silvia Fausto at Cosa Duci in Boca Raton. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
Cosa Duci
141 NW 20th St., B21, Boca Raton
Cosa Duci, a wholesale and retail bakery, was founded by baker Giovanna Cimino and Silvia Fausto after Giovanna’s son, Giuseppe Fausto, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was 27. A portion of the bakery’s proceeds go to MS research.
Mother: Giovanna Cimino, 71, Boca Raton
Daughter: Silvia Fausto, 49, Boca Raton
How long we’ve been working together:
Silvia: 10 years.
Roles in the business:
Giovanna: Baker.
Silvia: Business manager.
How did you get started baking?
Giovanna: Cooking and baking has always been my passion.
Silvia: I really don’t bake much. I do love to decorate, run the business and worry about the day-to-day tasks.
Favorite thing to make:
Giovanna: Ricotta cheesecake and rainbow cookies.
Silvia: Decorating holiday items.
Best part of working with my daughter:
Giovanna: We really enjoy creating new products together and we enjoy our friendships with our loyal customers.
Best thing about working with my mom:
Silvia: Working with my mom is really easy because she’s also my best friend.
Plans for Mother’s Day:
Giovanna: We spend it together every year.
Silvia: Dinner with my mom.
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