Meet July Yokogawa | Owner

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

Hi July, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Like many quarantine born hobbies, Crackle ‘n Puff started from a baking whim. Baking has always been a passion of mine, and I picked it back up during the lockdown stages of the pandemic. While I did not join the bread starter trend, I found myself more drawn to making cream puffs more and more each time. One thing lead to another and here we are: providing cream puffs to the general public to enjoy.

The name “Crackle ‘n Puff” is a play on words. The French term for the variation of cream puffs we make is “choux au craquelin.” Translated, it means “cracker puffs.” My husband, Scotty, came up with the name Crackle ‘n Puff. It’s the literal process of what happens during the bake: The dough crackles and puffs into this gorgeous shell. Ergo, Crackle ‘n Puff.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Crackle ‘n Puff is a part-time endeavor. I am a Project Manager for a right-of-way consulting firm. In the simplest terms, I aid the building of transportation infrastructure (freeways, roadways, etc.). You can imagine that along with a 40+ hour work-week, what motivates an individual to work on their side endeavors? For me, it’s the satisfaction of seeing happy faces walk away and happily consume a cream puff or cookie. Bonus points if a patron comes back and provides a raving review and/or purchases more treats. As a self-taught baker, it is rewarding to know that the public appreciates the quality of the product.

I may not know where Crackle ‘n Puff will be in 3, 5, or 10 years; however, I’m here for it in the present and hope to be able to supply as many puffs and cookies as possible!

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?
We’re so lucky to live in a state where you can literally do it all – go snowboarding in the morning, take a hike along the beachside, and see the city lights from a hillside. For the nature enthusiast, I’d recommend a hike through Griffith Park, Eaton Canyon, or to see the Wisdom Tree. For bites, I’d stop in to Tito’s Tacos in Culver City, ramen from HiroNori (various locations such as Long Beach, Irvine, Santa Fe Springs), or if you’re in a fancy mood, Lawry’s for their prime rib.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Crackle ‘n Puff would not be where it is today without a few. First and foremost, I have to attribute much of our success to my husband, Scotty. I like to joke and say that he is “Oversight and Quality Control,” but the truth is, Scotty does it all. From booth set up to jumping in to mixing ingredients, Scotty has been instrumental in getting us event ready.

Secondly, I have to say our success is attributed to our friends, old and new. We’ve been able to reconnect with old friends and meet so many new ones since business inception. If you’ve purchased a puff, posted a story on Instagram, or even just stopped by our booth to take a glance, we appreciate you.

Website: www.cracklenpuff.com

Instagram: @cracklenpuff

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cracklenpuff