Like many others, Le Cordon Bleu London alumna Tamsin Robinson found herself at odds of what to do with her newly-acquired Diplôme de Pâtisserie when COVID shuttered the hospitality industry.
Stuck at home, with plans to find employment in a pastry kitchen put on hold, Robinson turned her hand to writing online recipe content for a local magazine. The mountain of feedback she received then prompted the birth of BakesterBox in July 2020 – the baking craze had dug deep and although people had tons of enthusiasm, they did not necessarily have the right ingredients, equipment or even know-how.
“I graduated in March 2020, the week before [the first lockdown]. With the pandemic severely limiting pastry kitchen opportunities, I did not go to work in a kitchen as planned. Instead, I launched BakesterBox, a baking kit business to bring a little pastry chef flair into home kitchens. I’ve been busy growing BakesterBox since.”
Less waste, less fuss, more fun
She said the idea behind the concept is to transform the home baker’s experience – be they a newbie or a self-confessed pro in the kitchen – to make it less daunting, hassle-free and enjoyable. Moreover, with all ingredients precisely measured, nothing goes to waste.
Each BakesterBox contains locally sourced professional quality ingredients – similar to those used by top chefs in fine dining pastry kitchens – along with handy baking equipment like pastry brushes and piping bags, and easy-to-follow tutorials, available both in print and in step-to-step video online.
“My dreams are for BakesterBox to be able to offer more patisserie-style items, like tartlets, choux pastry and mousses to give my customers even more of a pastry-chef experience at home.”
She told BakeryandSnacks that she believes the home baking trend is expected to continue long after COVID has, one day, become a distant memory.
“Eventually, I hope to own a bricks-and-mortar patisserie where customers could come and sit in for cakes (and Afternoon Tea), take in-person baking classes using BakesterBox kits and purchase baking kits to take home.”
Despite currently managing the business single-handed, Robinson has curated a range of DIY kits that run the gamut from Blond Choc, Pistachio & Cardamom Cookies to Butterscotch & Rye Nut Tart to Focaccia and Cream Tea with Apple Compote, among others. Best-selling items include the Cinnamon Bun kits – with eight individually packaged components – and the Valrhona Dark Chocolate Tart kits, which includes exoglass tart rings, a specialist item made from a patented polyamide material that is hygienic, heat-resistant and dishwasher safe.
“Baking is super cathartic, so perfect to do after a busy day,” said Robinson.
Prices start from £17 per box, which can be delivered across the UK.
Listen to the podcast to find out more.
