Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Hom-yern
Hi Erica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’d always had a sweet tooth. And growing up in a Chinese household, you were taught to never come empty handed to someone’s house. So every visit to family or friends would come after a visit to the local Chinese bakery. I was always enamored by the fluffy cakes and sweet breads.
As I got older, I became the resident baker for my family. I would bake up sweets and desserts for all our holiday gatherings. It became my creative outlet. I eventually started a baking blog, which further helped me combine my love of pastry with all the Asian flavors I grew up with in New York City. I wrote recipes for creamy Thai tea cream puffs, black sesame egg tarts and pillowy milk bread cinnamon rolls.
When we moved to Austin, I was still testing recipes and always had an excess of baked goods. The four of us could only eat so many a day! That’s when my brother in law suggested that I start selling these treats instead of letting them go to waste, and the idea for Cookie Wookie Kitchen was born. Unfortunately, I decided to launch the business, in March of 2020, the week before everything was shut down because of the pandemic. I had to put the business on pause and wait it out. But as months and months passed we decided that we couldn’t wait any longer and launched in August 2020, hoping that Austin would be open to an Asian American cookie shop! Luckily we were welcomed with a warm embrace from everyone in the city. From our wonderful customers to fellow restaurant and shop owners. Our existence 5 years later is a testament to Austin’s support for small local businesses.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No business can exist without a few bumps in the road. My menu rotates pretty frequently, so. constantly coming up with new ideas and new cookies every month was pretty hard at times. Sometimes the ideas don’t come. Pushing yourself to be creative on a deadline is definitely a tough thing to do.
There were also days when I would get lovely glowing reviews for my cookies, and there were days when things burned or were under cooked, and that one time I was screamed at by someone I drove 40 minutes away to deliver to. Those are the days you second guess yourself. Those are the days your imposter syndrome creeps in and you have to be strong enough to pick get back up.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cookie Wookie Kitchen?
We are known for our Asian Inspired Cookies, treats and pastries. We were one of the first businesses in Austin to combine Asian flavors like Ube, Pandan and Vietnamese Coffee, into an American style chewy cookie. Our products represent the dichotomy of being Asian American and how we can be both Asian and American at the same time. Growing up eating red bean soup for dessert with my family but chocolate chip cookies with my friends is something we never really talked about until recently. But with cookies, like my Red Bean Mochi Cookie or my Black Sesame Cookies and Cream Cookie, both worlds get to exist in one entity. To me, these cookies embody who we are as Asian Americans.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was a pretty out going kid. I was always reprimanded in school for talking to much or speaking out of turn. I liked dancing, writing, and watching tv. But probably above all, I loved food. I would watch my mom baking banana bread and cupcakes as.a kid and developed a big sweet tooth. As soon as I was able to, I started baking. I always remember the one time that I tried to improvise making a batch of s’mores brownies in my parents broiler. I walked away without realizing how fast a broiler can heat up marshmallows and almost set my parents house on fire!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.CookieWookieKitchen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookiewookiekitchen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cookiewookiekitchen
Image Credits
Kelly Zhu
