Patricia Acosta’s devotion to learning has led her to be the Head Baker at Ten O’Clock Cookie Bakery Café in Masterton.
“Learning, in this career, you never stop learning. There’s always something new to learn and discover. Sharing what I know with others.”
Born in Mexico City, Acosta’s passion for cooking and baking led her on a journey around the world, starting with France, where she studied French cuisine, and then to Monaco, where she won a scholarship to work and study. She later worked on an Italian cruise ship, where she could travel the world while doing what she loved.
Acosta’s partner convinced her to work in New Zealand, where they both laboured as chefs in Wellington before she got an offer at Ten O’Clock Cookie Bakery Café. After two years, she was offered the role of Head Baker, where she continues to create and develop great products with her team.
“I started all my baking classes at University. I was completely amazed at all the different methods and techniques involved. The science behind baking was incredible to me.”
What attracted her to her role as a Head Baker was the opportunity to keep learning and sharing her knowledge with others. Ten O’Clock Cookie Bakery Café has a range of unique products, including Dutch Fruit Buns, Speculaas Biscuits, and Oliebollen, which are not commonly found in many bakeries. Acosta believes that the future of baking lies in developing techniques and products that cater to different dietary needs, such as gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, keto, paleo, and vegan.
When she is not working, Acosta enjoys reading pastry and baking books and magazines to stay up to date with the latest trends and techniques. She also loves to explore new establishments, try new flavours, and keep up her repertoire. Acosta’s favourable ingredient to work with is chocolate, which she is proud to say comes from her Mexican culture.
For anyone wanting to get into this or baking, this baker’s advice is not to abandon hope as the industry struggles.
“Never give up, this is not an easy career, but as long as you have passion and dedication, you can achieve as much as you want.”
