About 12 Kitchens
Hello baking friends! My name is April, and I am the creator behind 12 Kitchens. In this blog you will find no cup measurements or long stories before the actual recipe; I’m just not about that lifestyle. You will find real life techniques, tips and tricks, and science to help better your baking so you can bring professional desserts to your home kitchen.
I was in the food and beverage industry as a pastry chef for about 12 years, and I have worked in 12 different kitchens (hence the name of my blog). Full time jobs, part time jobs, second jobs, on call jobs, internships, etc. And all those different jobs have been the foundation from which I built these recipes and techniques off of.
About my Style
I want people to eat my desserts and have an extraordinary experience. So, my style is flair. I take ordinary desserts and usual ingredients and incorporate new and different flavors, textures, and techniques. This gives the taste tester a completely new and different experience. Although, some of the recipes are the true classics because sometimes you just have to stay classy.
My Story
My passion started with baking Christmas cookies with grandma at 4 years old. However, it wasn’t until high school when I started working in a local bakery. I went on to culinary school and have a bachelors degree in baking and pastry arts. When I graduated culinary school I moved to Boston and worked at some of the best restaurants. After restaurants, I moved to working at some of the top hotels also in Boston. I was then laid off from my dream job and found I lost my passion for working in the industry and my priorities shifted. After a short time back in school, I took a full time job at a regular 9-5. I left the industry but continued baking on the side. Baking on the side turned into having side baking goals and baking side goals turned into the birth of a baking blog.
In my spare time I was also a competitive ballroom dancer! I started and stopped dancing the same times I started and stopped baking professionally. Those activities always went hand in hand for me. I also enjoy video games, boxing, reading, quoting Spongebob on the reg, going to Disney World, and obsessing over giraffes. Want to chat more? Give me a shout!
