Culinary Afropreneurs Meet Laine's Bake Shop owner Rachel Bernier-Green at the Lunch and Learn panel at Take the Plunge Business Growth Panel

Find out some of the secrets of success - and growing pains - for Rachel Bernier-Green, co-owner and head baker at ‘Laine’s Bake Shop during the Lunch and Learn session of the Take the Plunge 

 ‘Laine’s is a family operated artisan baking company with a social mission.
‘Laine’s mission is to become a catalyst for revitalization of urban communities, beginning with the south side of Chicago. Rachel owns the company with her husband, Jaryd Bernier-Green. Rachel’s professional background is in the field of accounting and finance. She holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance and Accounting and a Master of Science degree in Taxation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While at the University of Illinois, Rachel spent a term in the Social Enterprise Summer Institute which piqued her interest in business as a tool for social change. Rachel is also an alumni of the prestigious Good Food Business Accelerator.

 Rachel grew up creating delicious treats in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother and always dreamed of turning her passion into a business. She was a serial teenpreneur but one of her first businesses was selling her baked goods at a stand in her grandmother’s yard. Over the years, Rachel continued to hone her craft even as she pursued a career in the intense field of public accounting. In April, 2013 Rachel decided to finally bring her dream to life by creating ‘Laine’s Bake Shop, an online bakery catering company. ‘Laine’s Bake Shop was founded to create delicious, scratch made treats with a focus on creativity, honest ingredients, and unparalleled customer service. Jaryd and Rachel began to work on ‘Laine’s Bake Shop full time in July of 2015. In July of 2016 the first ‘Laine’s Bake Shop store was opened . ‘Laine’s treats can also be found in Chicagoland Whole Foods stores, Starbucks, on Amazon Fresh, and at several local restaurants and retailers.

Tix for Take the Plunge Business Success Conference



About the Host

Project Forward is a business management consultancy specializing in economic development strategies and tactics for organizations that revitalize commercial corridors.  We partner with small businesses, chambers of commerce, real estate developers, business improvement districts or municipalities.

Chef Samuel Marshall wants you to savor Japanese Soba Noodles

Japanese soba noodles:

Ingredients 1. Soba Noodles 2. Small carrot 3. mushrooms 4. Micro cilantro 5. Yamaki Soba Noodle Sauce 6. Kosher salt 7. Fresh cracked pepper 8. 2
Scallions Directions: 1. In a large pot bring to boil 4 cups of salted water and cook to package instructions. 2. Once done, drain and rinse in salted cold water and set aside.

For mushrooms: 1. Finely diced your choice of mushrooms, I enjoy shiitake. 2. In a medium saute pan on medium/high heat add 2TBSP olive oil. 3. Add mushrooms to olive oil and saute for about 3 minutes, season with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper. 4. Add 2TBSP butter to pan and cook until butter is incorporated. 5. Add 2TBSP red wine vinegar and cook for an additional 1 minute. 6. Remove from heat and set aside to cool for about 3 minutes. 7. Peel carrot and shave thinly with a potato peeler.

For Plating: 1. Place noodles in a pasta bowl, top with shaved carrots. Sprinkle mushrooms around the bowl and chopped scallions. Garnish with micro cilantro. 2. Add 3TBSP of soba sauce to bowl, ladel over soba noodles. 3. Serve room temperature and enjoy

Chef Samuel Marshall, a part of our upcoming CulinaryCelebration.
#culinarychicago

Chef Samuel tells us about himself:

"40 years old, born and raised in Chicago, Il. 
Attended Culinary School at Le Cordon Bleu Chicago, worked and trained at mk Restaurant under Chef Erick Williams. Started Urban Fusion Cuisine 2013 with partner Chef Mary Stewart. 
You're now able to get a taste of my amazing dishes by attending one of Urban Fusion Cuisine pop up restaurant locations. Which happens twice a month. Event info is posted on my Facebook page each month.." https://www.facebook.com/SDM34