Welcome to christine's ~ cheers to 2024 and what's to come

Welcome to christine's ~ cheers to 2024 and what's to come

And just like that, another year has passed us by - happy 2025 to you all, what a year it has been here at christine's!

I got what I wished for this past year, which was to get back into the trenches of baking...and in doing so, I had to take a step back from sharing all that was happening in my crazy mind, except for the occasional snapshots of running the mixer and quite a few large bakes! So before I start getting wrapped up in production again, I thought I'd share some sentiments I had hoped to share at the beginning of 2024, with the rebrand of christine's cookie co. to christine's, highlights of the past year, as well as some things I'm looking forward to in 2025.

Welcome to christine's~

After baking school in 2023 and the move to San Francisco, I had the opportunity to take an extended break to travel - Peter (my husband) and I booked a trip to Paris, a first for both of us! Though it was dreary and frigid in January, Paris in the winter was the perfect place for me to eat 5+ pastries a day for research, and take in all the inspiration the city had to offer.

Throughout the city, many eateries were called 'chez insert name here.' Chez is the french word for 'at the house of,' so it's as if you're dining at someone's own home - I love how personal it is! And out of curiousity, knowing that my name is french, I decided to look up my own name on Google Maps. Low and behold, we managed to make it out to Rue de Christine, my own little street in Paris with a small cinema, diner, and Michelin recommended restaurant called Le Christine! It was the best food we had on the trip, and not just because of the name (:

Being in Paris during a time of reflection and rest, combined with the jetlag of the first few nights, led me to start thinking...what if christine's cookie co. was rebranded to something as simple as...christine's?

An organic microbakery with consciously made wares

Some of you may not know this, but in a previous life, I was a published author, worked in corporate sustainability, and shared my journey of minimalism and low waste living online (at one point, all at once). Christine’s cookie co. began because of those formative years in my early career, hoping that my passion for sustainability could be expressed in a more tangible way with my local community - in this case, through organic cookies.

Four years have passed since the inception of christine's cookie co., and I began to envision this next chapter of the microbakery as a bridge between my previous life and the present. I knew that I wanted to grow as a baker, but there was a part of me that also wanted to share more of the things I love - all things that are sustainably made, beautiful objects from local creatives that I've met on this small business journey, tools that I love to use in my own home to be a little kinder to the planet.

We kicked off our grand opening with my good friend Aileen from Vestige Story back in June, and while clothing and cookies may not seem like an obvious pairing, our worlds collided over a mutual love for slow, sustainable small business practices. That love and respect only grew as I continued to curate wares from more makers that I've met these past four years, and even though I'm not a part of their production process, I know how much blood, sweat and tears goes into running a small business, and I can't help but share a bit of that joy when any of you come through and are delighted to purchase a piece for yourself or a loved one.

Our favorite furniture maker, Adam from Black Crate Designs, was hard at work this past season building a new shelving system for our wares section of the microbakery, and we can't wait for you all to see what it looks like soon! Not only do I hope to expand our bakery offerings, but also the variety of consciously made wares that grace the walls of this beautiful space.

Community, connection, and intentionality

Opening up christine's this past year has been so special, even though it was only a mere six months. I hosted my first workshops in the space which were incredible - I had envisioned starting night at the microbakery after moving into the space, knowing that it would be so special to have people come in for more than just a transaction, but an experience after hours - and I loved getting to see many of you, whether just once or twice, or perhaps every week (we know who you are)!

And as I get ready for our first week of operating again, I continue to remind myself why I've started this company, and why it's worth the uphill battle. I wrote earlier in 2024,

"I truly hope this business can exist to further my vision for a more sustainable and equitable community...by supporting local and organic farmers and food producers, showcasing intentionally curated home goods made...or finding moments to give back and volunteer whenever we can, it’s my dream to foster a community where we can continue to build a healthier planet and support one another."

Even though we're a tiny operation in the midst of a beautiful city, we're doing all we can to be intentional with what we've been given. Thank you for your support, as always, if you haven't heard it from me enough. We're incredibly blessed and look forward to another year of growth, and hopefully, positive changes as we take it step by step towards the next!

Photos taken one year apart - in 2023 when we signed the lease of the space, and at the end of 2024

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