NAPA, Calif. — Rory Kandel’s strongest memories revolve around baking with her mother and grandmother. Although she harbored dreams of starting her own bakery at the age of 20, she initially worked as a pastry assistant in New York City.
The moment of inspiration struck during the pandemic lockdown. “I guess I’ll offer people cookies,” she vividly remembers writing in a Facebook post, which led to the inception of Rory’s Bakehouse. It didn’t take long for Rory to realize that her home oven had limitations, prompting a significant realization.
“As a pastry chef, I have consistently frozen items and baked them later, so I thought, why not just freeze everything? Then people can bake it themselves.” This seemingly simple adjustment transcended beyond just cookies; it created an entire experience. “The act of baking it yourself brings so much joy. It’s truly like receiving a warm hug.”
On December 1, 2023, Rory was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. “MS is called the snowflake disease. Nobody has it the same way.” Her perspective shifted dramatically. “Prior to being diagnosed, I felt like I had all the time in the world, and now I feel like I have no time.”
Yet Rory faces this reality with courage: “Every day I wake up, the sun is shining. This disease is not going to kill me. It’s just going to teach me new ways of living life.”
Rory is now forming “Rory’s Bakehouse” team for the MS Walk in San Francisco on April 27, combining her baking passion with advocacy for a cause that’s become deeply personal.
Her ambitions remain bold: “I envision being like Marie Calendar or Mrs. Fields. I want my cookies to be in grocery stores from here to New York City.” Her slogan says it all: “Loving your oven. Because we are putting love in people’s ovens all over the Bay area now.”
You can follow Rory on Instagram @Rorysbakehouse.
