Meet Carolina Bimonte Hart: Pastry Chef , Mother of 3 under 3

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolina Bimonte Hart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolina, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Life balance. When my business started for real was in the beginning of the pandemic. I say “for real” because I used to take an order here, order there while working 70+ hours as a pastry chef in 3 different places. But then pandemic hit, I had to pull my 2 babies out of daycare (2.8yo and 1.5yo) and I was pregnant with my now 3mo. So starting the business for real was a needed route to my future. But I knew I couldn’t just sit here and promote cakes and sweets in a time where everyone was not celebrating or only holding intimate celebrations, and that’s what helped me succeed, I came with novelty items. First was the cookie decorating kit (nobody was doing it when I started), I sold 20 alone just within the first week. Then I launched the party box in 3 different sizes which came with cake, sweets and savory pastries and there it goes 10 boxes in the first week of launching. From there, orders had not stopped!!! 

What should our readers know about your business?
Carola’s Kitchen is my home business, it was a hobby that became my job. It started 8 years ago when I was still in Brazil, working with finances. I started baking for fun, until I decided that the fun had and needed to be my job. I moved to US, perused a pastry degree at Le Cordon Bleu and worked, worked hard. While in school I worked full time at Cherokee Town&Country Club and part time at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion. After Cherokee I worked in a couple other places moving up to being a pastry chef. And throughout all these jobs I kept the one as the pastry chef of the Governor. I’m still there and will work for them until they want me there, it’s been 6 years! This is not an easy career and school not really give you the necessary tools but it’s the go gather in you and the willingness of mentors to help and teach and grow with you. And thankfully I encountered many of those. I carry a little bit of each place I worked at, they all formed the professional I am today but having my business was a necessity. My husband and I both work food industry and one of us had to “give up” getting out the house everyday in sake of our kids. It was me but I couldn’t and wouldn’t stop, so 8 years later my Carola’s Kitchen hobby became my career!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Two places I love: Athens and Helen Athens I met the love of my life and it has a young atmosphere. A long walk around and in campus specially checking out the Founders Memorial Garden, hidden gem on the heart of campus. And grab a slice at Mellow Mushroom along a local IPA. Helen, is out go to place for a quick getaway. Eat some chocolate truffles at Hansel&Gretel, a burger at Cafe International and some game meat jerky downtown. Oh make sure to go to Hofer’s for breakfast too (I may only go to Helen to eat lol) and also stop at Chattahoochee Cheese Market for local delicacy cheeses, delicious sandwiches and coffee. And hey, if the weather is good, it’s nice to go tubbing down the chatahoochee river.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband James is my biggest cheerleader, he motivates me to keep going, help me keep my sanity (much needed when you are managing a home business, the house and 3 kids under 3 years old). I have another cheerleader, which is Chef Simon, he has believed in me since day one and 6 years later he still counts on me and support me! Olivia, Stella and Jack (my kids) for being the best babies, for fulfilling my life in a way, no sprinkle ever could (and I do love sprinkles lol).

Website: www.carolaskitchen.us
Instagram: @carolaskitchen
Linkedin: Carolina Bimonte
Facebook: Carola’s Kitchen

Image Credits
Here Comes the Sun Photography CIA Brasil Magazine