What is your name and what is your company’s name?
My name is Gabriella, Gaby for my friends. My small business name is Dolce by Gaby. “Dolce” is the Italian translation for “sweet”; I wanted a name that reflects my Italian background
Tell us about your business.
I am a stay-at-home mom with a passion for pastry making. I specialize in decorated cookies, meringues, and other sweet treats. eel free to check out my work and follow me on Facebook (Dolce by Gaby) Instagram (www.Instagram.com/dolcebygaby) or through my website HEREF
What is your job?
My main job is to take care of my two beautiful children, but as a hobby, I bake cookies to make people happy.
Why did you decide to pursue this career?
I am Italian and as part of my culture, I grew up cooking and baking with my mom and grandma since I was a kid. With time it turned into a passion of mine; after traveling around the world and trying new different flavors I started focusing on my pastry and baking journey: I attended a pastry school in Napoli (my hometown), Italy. Once I moved to the US I was very lucky as I had the opportunity to work as a pastry chef in the upscale french bakery “Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie” owned by the Bocuse group at the France Pavilion at Epcot World Showcase, Walt Disney World.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The bright side of my job is that I pretty much decide my own schedule and usually work at night when my kids are asleep. I get to use my creativity a lot in making decorated cookies.
I get to meet and talk to people about their upcoming events and learn about what they like in order to make the final product as personalized to their taste as I can.
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have two boys who are 3 and 5 years old.
How do you juggle work with mommyhood?
Only my oldest goes to school, for now, so we try to stick to a routine to have enough time to spend together as a family and at the same time allow them to get the hours of sleep they need. I try to focus on social media posting and answering messages early in the morning.
What’s your favorite restaurant and/or place to shop in Polk County?
My favorite Restaurant in Polk County is, of course, Italian! It’s called Palace Pizza in Lakeland, owned by an Italian family from Campania ( the same region where I’m from).
Everything they make is mouthwatering, from their appetizers to dessert, but my favorite is their pizza, in my opinion, the best in Central Florida.
What’s your favorite thing to do with your family?
We love going to the beach, as a family, we try taking a vacation once a year and spend some time in Clearwater. We love exploring new beaches in that area, going for long walks while collecting unique seashells, and trying new restaurants in the vicinity.
What do you love about living in Polk County?
I love how family-friendly Polk County is, the perfect place to live with kids. There are a lot of activities for families. The best part is that it’s located halfway between the amusement parks and the beach; I can’t think of a better place to live as a family with young kids.
What’s the best advice you have received?
Someone once said: “ A dream life and business are absolutely possible, just need to have a plan and make it happen” and I am working towards this goal.