2020, New York was shut down due to the pandemic, and the whole world was put on a pause. But her world didn’t stop. After visiting her family in Chambana, she saw an opportunity to bring the high-level and inspiring pastry experience to the Heartland and to the highly international population. Later, she met the BrewLab team and was impressed by its dedication to coffee quality and community building. She decided to collaborate together. The idea of BakeLab was born, where she can be highly creative and be free to experiment with different flavors, ingredients and cooking methods and share the love of pastries with the community. Since its inception in 2021, BakeLab has served as a gathering place in the heart of Urbana for residents and visitors alike.