The Fanciest Bake Sale You’ll Ever Go To

Baker Faire & Market is back this Sunday with sweet and savory treats, with proceeds supporting women in the food industry.

July 7, 2016

Catherine Toth Fox,

These Everything Biscuits were SOME of the savory items sold at last year’s Baker Faire. This Sunday’s event will feature both sweet and savory treats.

Photos: Courtesy of Byron Goo

We've got your next cheat day all planned out. This coming Sunday, July 10, MW Restaurant is hosting a bake sale, and it's no ordinary bake sale.

For one, the Baker Faire & Market is going to be offering pastries crafted by Honolulu’s best patisserie chefs. There’ll be various tarts, cookies, cannolis and cakes, alongside savory sandwiches, breads and salads. The market will also feature fresh local produce including hearts of palm from the Big Island, spices, jams, candies and teas, in addition to glassware, kitchen utensils and cookbooks.

And, if all that's not enough, everyone participating in the event is a member of the Hawai‘i Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international organization of women leaders in the fields of food, beverage and hospitality. Proceeds from Baker Faire will go toward scholarships for female students to participate in food-related programs.

“A table full of good food, good beverage and good hospitality brings people of different cultures together,” says co-president Kathi Saks, veteran private chef who will be serving a mango-dill chicken salad atop mixed greens from Kahumana Organic Farm in Wai‘anae, a tart-quiche using hearts of palm and Hāmākua mushrooms, and triple-chocolate cookies. “We celebrate all this through education, sharing and mentoring programs.”

More desserts sold at last year’s Baker Faire. This year’s event will feature a market with prepared and packaged foods, local produce, cookbooks and kitchenware.

Michelle Karr-Ueoka of MW Restaurant, one of Baker Faire’s founders, will be serving tarts, holiday cookies, cannolis, sandwiches and carne asada. (“I’m having the females in the MW kitchen create dishes and showcase their talent,” she says.) Kristin Jackson, who owned the now-defunct Kiss My Grits in Puck’s Alley, will make her popular country biscuits with apple butter and peach cobbler. Other participants include Cakeworks, EAT Honolulu, Sweet Revenge, Monkeypod Jam, The Tea Chest, Kōloa Rum, Wailea Agricultural Group and Hawaiian Nougat Co.

Saks says this event is a great way for people to learn more about Les Dames d’Escoffier's mission: supporting other women in the food industry and the communities in which they work and live.

“I’m blown away by how generous everybody [in the organization] is, not only in what they’re doing in their communities to give back but sharing how they can help you,” says Saks, who now focuses on food waste solutions. “I find that women working together is very empowering.”

This event, entirely run by members, is an example of the power of collaboration and support.

“It’s about sharing your knowledge and collaborating with others,” Karr-Ueoka says. “It’s always such a joy to see the other members and get to share ideas and learn more about what they’re doing.”

Baker Faire & Market, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until sold out) on Sunday, July 10, MW Restaurant, 1538 Kapi‘olani Blvd., #107. Pre-order the Collab Cookie Box by calling 955-6505. Learn more about Les Dames d’Escoffier here.

Join us at the first-ever Best of Honolulu Festival on Saturday, July 16 at the Honolulu Hale Civic Grounds, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find out more here.