Custom gourmet baked goods. Catering. Personal chef. Jerky. Brought to you by Paige and Nick Gershak. Vegetarian and Vegan options as well.
03/08/2025
Happy International Women’s Day, to all the amazing women out there!
I started Pineapple Bakery 15 years ago, as a single mom of a four year old daughter. I was working two jobs as a chef (one at a wine bar— nights, weekends and for special events, and one at a catering company, during the day).
I wanted to have something of my own, and that’s why
I started Pineapple Bakery. When I first started, it was called Pineapple Bakery & Catering.
I was fortunate in those first few years to have a lot of corporate accounts and catering gigs, which helped me get the business off the ground.
But as is often the case for small businesses, things slowed down. I realized I would still have to work my full time day job (which had now moved to preschool teacher), and do Pineapple Bakery on the side.
People think that things like this are easy decisions—they aren’t. Anyone who has ever owned a business, knows how much it becomes a part of you.
Still, running my business part time, being a full time single mom and working another job, is no joke.
I am proud of all that I accomplished in those years. Later, I would begin the journey of going back to school to get my education degree with ESL endorsement, which I am proud to say I did.
I also met and married my husband, who is also a chef and shares a passion for cooking with me. He and I now have my daughter who is a Freshman in college and a son who is four years old. Talk about coming full circle. 😅
We combined his jerky business and my bakery business in 2022, as Meats & Sweets Chicago, and we haven’t looked back. This year we will become Meats & Sweets L.L.C., and have our business license.
When I began this journey fifteen years ago, I never could have predicted where I would be. Despite all the twists and turns, I know I’m right where I need to be.
Second photo: my daughter at four years old, helping me in the kitchen. Third photo, our four year old son, helping us in the kitchen.
I take pride in being a strong, female business owner. I take pride in having raised my daughter to be strong, and my son is too. I am thankful to the women in my life who have truly been there for me on this journey.
