I grew up in family donut shops and Chinese food restaurants my entire young-adult life, having worked on service counter, as cashier, and, of course, as chef. Growing up low-income, cooking was not just a means of making a living, keeping a family fed, and paying bills, but it became a source of comfort and foundation knowing that the recipes passed down will always be there, even amidst the struggles and instability within our lives. I became obsessed with creating my own recipes and found a natural affinity for sweets (stemming from the donuts I would eat as a child) and Asian flavors (heavy influenced by the cultural food my Southeast Asian parents would make). Once I left town for college and got a degree in Business, the story proceeds the same as many others: working a corporate job, lacking fulfillment, and finally realigning with the energies of the universe to manifest what I believe is a divine directive: to inspire others by sharing delicious food. Raised in the Vietnamese/Mexican food scene of San Diego but having lived in multi-cultural Los Angeles for the last decade, I took inspiration myself from various ethnic groups I encountered and aspired to open a café micro-bakery where I could share amazing, worldly flavors, using classical techniques but putting a whimsical spin on tradition. The world has become so connected, we can now recognize our uniqueness and values as communities might actually be universal, regardless of which continent you’re standing on.

Bridges Bakehouse is about bridging cultures through flavors, paying respect to the communities represented in LA. We believe in supporting our neighbors and sharing the best food and drinks that will invite conversation and excitement.

• Dereck Lau