StartUP FIU Food Speaker Series:"Launching within the Food Industry"

Join StartUP FIU Food for our Special Edition - Speaker Series "Launching within the Food Industry".Our feature moderator Zak Stern, Owner and Founder of Zak the Baker, will be joined by a panel with food industry experts to share their experiences and how to launch a successful business in Miami.

Moderator

Zak Stern - Owner & Founder of Zak the Baker

Zak Stern, Owner & Founder of Zak the Baker

Miamian Zak Stern wanted to work with his hands and to know things like when tomato seasons starts in South Florida. So he withdrew from pharmacy school at Florida State and spent six years traveling around the United States, Europe, and Israel, apprenticing at farms and learning the craft and artisanship behind wine, cheese, and bread. His experience on a goat farm in Israel made an impression, instilling in Stern a relentless work ethic and teaching him “the wisdom of the country” versus the wisdom of the city. Baking bread also made an impact on Stern. He loved the challenge of extracting the maximum amount of flavor from the minimum amount of ingredients. He learned to appreciate simplicity as a virtue.  

After years on the road, Stern was ready for the comfort and familiarity of home. With no money, but a world of hands-on experience, he returned to Miami, got a part time job, installed a used pizza oven in his friend’s garage, and started baking bread. Stern was selling 50 loaves each week at a farmers market when chefs started seeking him out and requesting his bread for their restaurants. Suddenly, Stern had a business. He hired apprentices, who worked for room and board, found a commercial space to bake in, and continued to accumulate wholesale accounts. Finally, and entirely self-funded, Zak the Baker opened in Wynwood in 2014. Two years later, Stern has a staff of 52 and the business continues to grow, but not just for growth’s sake. Stern is growing community, built on bread.

Panelist

Misha Gomez, Owner & Founder of Misha's Cupcakes

Misha's Cupcakes was born in 2005, shortly after the birth of Misha Kuryla-Gomez first child, Ella. Misha was at home with Ella, listening to NPR, when inspiration struck.In October 2005, Misha started baking chocolate cupcakes (gradually adding other flavors) in her home while Ella, who was five-months-old, napped. Initially, she gave them to anyone that would take them - for free! Shortly thereafter, Misha donated cupcakes to a charity event for Susan G. Komen, and in the process, connected with her first wholesale client, Morning Call Bakery. From there, Misha introduced her cupcakes to a number of cafes and restaurants around Miami. She also started getting retail orders. In that first year, Misha managed to sell $50,000 worth of cupcakes! In 2006, she hired her first employee, and in 2007, she moved her operations into a warehouse, which she turned into her first commercial bakery. She opened a retail cart selling her cupcakes in Dadeland Mall that same summer. In 2008, Misha opened her first Misha's Cupcakes retail store in Coral Gables. By early 2015, there were four other Misha's Cupcakes locations in Miami and Broward. Misha also steadily increased the number of other retailers that carry her cupcakes; currently, those stores stretch from the Florida Keys to Broward County, and includes supermarkets such as Milam's and Tom Thumb. Misha's Cupcakes now has 85 employees. In 2014, it generated $4.3 million in revenue.

David Foulquier, Owner of Fooq's Miami

David Foulquier is a restaurateur intent on bringing world-class cuisine to Miami’s Arts & Entertainment District with his first venture Fooq’s opened February, 2015. Foulquier has traveled the globe and held positions in many acclaimed fine-dining restaurants where he learned the ropes of running both the front and the back of the house. His experience includes stints at renowned restaurants such as Restaurante Hofmann in Barcelona, Spain; Orsay Restaurant in New York, NY; and Gigi Restaurant in Miami, FL. Half French and half Persian, Foulquier hails from Manhattan’s Upper East Side in New York. Foulquier is a graduate of the FIU School of Hospitality, after having attended the University Of Miami. After completing his studies Foulquier went on to complete a course as a certified Sushi Chef from the Tokyo Sushi Academy. He has Staged under Michelin-starred chefs Daniel Boulud and Jean Georges Vongerichten in New York City. During his time at FIU, Foulquier worked as an assistant manager at local favorite OTC. From his countless experiences during his myriad of travels, Foulquier’s tastes and inspirations blossomed, allowing him to develop an eclectic palette and foster his passion for that he hopes to share with the world.