Meet Jaime Kimball | Baker

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

Hi Jaime, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I feel the most successful when I’m happy.
I’ve gone through many different phases in my business, months where I was incredibly busy and others that were painfully slow. Along the way, I’ve had opportunities to do things I never imagined I’d be able to do.
But the times I feel the most successful aren’t about how busy I am or what I’ve accomplished. It’s when I’m genuinely happy, happy with the work I’m putting out into the world and proud of the person I’m becoming in the process.
I truly love what I do, and I hope I’m able to keep doing it for the rest of my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I really see myself as an artist. I love creating cakes that feel beautiful, organic, and whimsical, often adorned with fresh florals and seasonal fruit.

One of the parts I love most is crafting my menu. While there’s a set menu on my website, I update a section each season to showcase local, in-season ingredients. Experimenting with new flavor combinations and exploring what the markets have to offer is one of the most exciting parts of my work, and it’s something I take a lot of pride in. For me, a cake isn’t finished unless it looks beautiful and tastes amazing.

Of course, starting a business comes with its challenges. There’s a lot of trial and error, and plenty of figuring things out on the fly. It can be stressful, but what’s helped me most is embracing my own pace and feeling good about the way my business is growing even if it’s slower than anticipated.

I want the world to know that I bake with love, it’s something that genuinely makes me happy. Crafting one-of-a-kind cakes for people’s special occasions is a source of pride for me. My goal is to create cakes that both my clients and I are excited to present. I want to bring joy and beauty to their cakes.

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?
I love this question!

For food I would recommend Truly Pizza, Heritage BBQ, Baja Fish Tacos and A’s burgers. For drinks I would say Mayfield in San Juan Capistrano.

For activities I would recommend going to Doheny and doing some surfing then hitting up River Street Market for some shopping.

And then because I’m a baker I have to recommend some dessert, I would say Handels ice cream is one of my favs! Also Truly Pizza has amazing soft serve.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband is the entire reason I even started Jaime’s Bakes. He’s believed in me from the very beginning and has given me confidence and support in so many ways. Without him, I truly don’t think I would have had the courage to start this journey.

I also want to give a huge shoutout to all the other Instagram bakers and cake makers who inspire me every single day with their beautiful work. The online baking community is such a special place to be a part of, and I’m constantly amazed by the talent, creativity, and kindness I see.

Lastly, I have to thank shows like Barefoot Contessa and The Martha Stewart Show. I couldn’t get enough of them when I was a kid, and watching them is what first sparked my love for baking. Those shows planted the seed for something that eventually turned into the business I have today.

Website: https://jaimesbakes.com/menu-and-ordering/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimes_bakes?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Other: Instagram: jaimes_bakes

Image Credits
Nikki Strekowski
Jessica Haderlie
Marci Nelson