Meet Lauren Baum | Challah Baker

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

Hi Lauren, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I never had dreams of starting my own business but then the pandemic hit and I was laid off from a 17 year career in advertising. With two small kids at home I had no desire to jump back into a corporate job so I took some time to myself and focused on my family. Like everyone else at the time, I started baking for fun. I became super obsessed with baking challah and tested recipe after recipe. I finally landed on one that I liked and began baking weekly. At one point a friend asked if I could make her some bread to take to a friend’s house and she told me she would pay me. I didn’t even know what to charge but I figured it out and then told a few people and they also offered to pay me to bake for them. Suddenly a business was born! I wouldn’t say I’m a natural entrepreneur but I have found so much joy in being my own boss and growing the business from my kitchen to a commercial baking space. I also never considered myself a creative person until I discovered my love for baking and coming up with new flavors. There is something so satisfying about creating a product with your own hands that makes people so happy.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
There are lots of challah bakers out there but I think what sets me apart is my commitment to use only the highest quality ingredients. This includes non-gmo, organic, fair trade ingredients. I never use any preservatives or food coloring in my dough. I don’t put anything in my bread that I wouldn’t feed to my own children. My focus is on quality which in turn makes the product taste far superior to any other challah on store shelves. Each loaf of bread is hand made and baked fresh to order. I also aim to provide an interesting mix of flavors that you wouldn’t necessarily see at a bakery (za’atar, nutella chocolate chip, sprinkle)

I began baking in my kitchen and as the business grew, I started to explore spaces that would allow me to grow. A friend introduced me to the owner of an established Jewish bakery and he welcomed me to bake in their space. It has completely changed my business in that I never need to turn down orders due to space limitations. Within the next year I expect my challah to be more widely available because I now have a trusted production partner. I can focus on sales, not just baking.

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?
As an LA native this is my favorite question. I love playing tour guide to out of town guests!

Food: Hank’s bagels, El Coyote (historic!!), Madeo (best Italian food ever), Jon and Vinny’s (second best Italian food ever), Republique for any meal of the day, lunch at La Scala (chop salad will always be my favorite), Chiba sushi in North Hollywood (the best!), Sushi Note (fancier sushi), Joans on Third for lunch or breakfast, Bay Cities Deli, Otium (and go to the Broad museum)

Fun: Dodger game, hike to the observatory at Griffith Park, Zuma beach, shop at The Grove, see a show at the Hollywood Bowl, take the train up to Santa Barbara for the day (funk zone, beach, state street), Descanso Gardens with kids, any event at Hollywood Forever cemetery, Broad Museum (and go to Otium to eat), Malibu Wine Safari

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s nearly impossible to shout out to just one person. I feel like I’ve got a team of people behind me who are rooting for me and have helped me grow.

My husband has supported me every step of the way. He’s my VP of taste testing and I’ve even put him to work peeling and chopping apples when I’m short handed.

Doug Weinstein, the owner of Diamond Bakery (where I bake), has been a teacher, cheerleader, partner and mentor to me. He gave me an opportunity to expand my business by giving me a place to bake when no one else thought I was big enough. He is truly one of a kind.

My very first customer was a friend (named Judy Land) who loved my home baked challah so much that she offered to pay me to make her some to take to a party. That was truly the moment The Baum Challah began.

Website: thebaumchallah.com

Instagram: @thebaumchallah