Meet Miriam Szkup | Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Miriam Szkup and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miriam, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
One thing that outsiders are unaware of in the baking industry, is how long some baked goods actually take to make. Some pastries like croissants, take 3 days to make. It’s not just mixing the ingredients and baking right away on many pastries.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the owner of a cottage microbakery called miriyumyums in Cleveland. I make everything from cakes to pies, with pies being my specialty. I love to use unique ingredients in my baked goods, which I think sets me apart from other bakers. One ingredient that I love to use is a spice called Ras El Hanout. It’s normally a savory spice, but I love to use it in my Italian plum jam. Currently, I supply Superelectric Pinball and Bookhouse Brewing with pastries, but also take custom orders.

Running your own business is very tough, no matter what industry it’s in. A challenge I had to face when first starting out, was how to manage my work-life balance. It took me over a year to finally manage to get to a place where I can manage both.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Cleveland in my opinion has one of the best art museums in the country, and I would start by going to the Cleveland Art Museum and Mondern Art Museum. Not only do we have amazing art museums, we also have The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Great Lakes Science Museum, and The Natural History Museum.

Coffee for me is a necessity since I’m an early morning baker. Phoenix Coffee has the best coffee in my opinion. They have many locations around town, and have been around for over 30 years.

As far as food, the Westside Market is a must see! You can grab breakfast, lunch, or even just snack there. I would also recommend Amba or Zhug for a nice dinner out.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I want to give a shoutout to my partner James. He not only provides emotional support, but also helps with deliveries, packing, supply shopping, and so much more.

Another person I would love to give a shoutout to, is my employer Caitlin who owns Philomena Bake Shop. I’ve been with Caitlin for about 7 years now, and wouldn’t own my own business today without all the knowledge she has bestowed on me. I have learned everything from baking to running my own business from her, and am so grateful for all her help.

Instagram: @miriyumyums