In Person Author Talk and Demo: Paola Velez, Bodega Bakes

Book Larder is delighted to welcome Bakers Against Racism co-founder Paola Velez to celebrate her debut book, Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store! Paola will be demoing a recipe, Q&A, and book signing here at the shop on Thursday, October 17th at 6:30pm. 

Reservations are non-refundable and include a signed copy of the $35 book. Applicable sales tax and a $0.75 transaction fee are also included. Can't attend but still want a signed book? Order here for shipping or in-store pickup.

About the Book: Bodega Bakes is a love letter to pastry chef and activist Paola Velez’s Dominican heritage and NYC roots. This book contains more than 100 recipes for tortas, cookies, brownies, frozen treats, and other baked goods that burst with the flavors of her life. 

The recipes in this book feature Paola’s renditions of traditional Dominican desserts such as Guava & Cheese Pastelitos and Tres Leches Cake, as well as unique twists on classic American treats such as Plantain Sticky Buns, “Everything on the Bodega Shelf” Brownies, and Paola’s viral “Thick’ems,” which combine the best of a crispy cookie and the delicious gooey parts of a soft cookie. Designed to be accessible to bakers of all levels (and those who shop at their corner store), the book also includes a “Trip to the Bodega” pantry section, along with Paola’s pro tips for success even with even the most modest equipment.

Each recipe is a testament to Paola’s passion, skill, and connection to her background, inviting the reader to recreate the magic of bodega treasures in their homes. The photography and design is bright, playful, joyous, bursting with color—a reflection of Paola's own uniquely vibrant personality. 

Paola Velez is a James Beard Award-nominated pastry chef who was raised in New York City and the Dominican Republic. She is the cofounder of Bakers Against Racism, a lighthouse organization raising millions of dollars for crucial social justice causes, is the founder of the pop-up dining series Doña Dona and Dōekï Dōekï, and is the former executive pastry chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant Maydan in Washington, DC. She was named Food & Wine’s best new chef and Cherry Bombe’s “Person of the Year” in 2021, and currently serves as a culinary diplomat for the United States. She lives in Washington, DC.