Nick Fron didn't lack courage when he decided to change his life and open an online bakery in his own kitchen, after working for ten years in some of Chicago's coolest Michelin-starred restaurants."While I loved fine dining, I aimed to offer something more approachable, catering to a broader audience." he explains.
The Story
It's not new the decision of downshifting made by well known chefs who suddenly decide to change their lives in favor of the so-called "self-imposed simplicity." Probably the first to shift gears, or at least the first to gain attention in this sense, was Dominique Le Stanc, former chef at the Negresco, who over five decades ago left behind the glimmering MICHELIN stars for a rustic bib gourmand in Nice, La Merenda, where he serves stuffed anchovies and tripe, to the delight of both himself and the customers. Stories like these, however, continue to attract attention, especially considering the hectic times the industry goes through. The latest story involves an American chef, Nick Fron, who decided to leave his successful career and his ultra-VIP connections to bake cookies in his home kitchen in Berwyn, Illinois.
"The lead singer of Def Leppard loved my macarons when they were on tour," he recalls without nostalgia, but with a hint of pride. After all, he was the one who fed many music stars, such as Stix, Tesla, Ozzie, The Chili Peppers, and The Black Keys, and even accompanied Van Halen on the road for an impressive three months. Meanwhile, he worked tirelessly in restaurants, where he earned great success: thanks to him, Arcadia earned two stars in Chicago, one each for Greenriver and Schwa. But it wasn't all smooth sailing.
"It was very stressful. I worked 70-80 hours a week. Basically, I would wake up, go to the restaurant, work all day, come home, and go to bed. Rinse and repeat," he tells fox32chicago.com. Everything changed when he decided to open his Insanely Awesome Bakery in his home kitchen. "It's fantastic that Illinois state's licenses for home production allow you to run a business at home without all the startup expenses that you would face for an external business," confirms Nick's wife, Karin Nagreave, excited about the new direction.
Nick summarizes his life as follows: "As a chef, foodie, and lover of all baked goods, I spent 10 years in the restaurant industry and worked in some of the most beautiful Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago. During that time, I learned to prepare delicious food with extraordinary techniques. I loved fine dining, but I wanted to do something more accessible that could reach everyone, so I decided to open my cottage home bakery. Insanely Awesome Bakery combines fine dining techniques, high-quality ingredients, and great recipes to create small and stunning packaged baked goods that turn classics into something unforgettable, bringing back happy moments."
Sales take place online at the e-shop Insanely Awesome Bakery throughout the state of Illinois or every Saturday at the farmer's market in Evanston.
