Sophie Vandecasteele says that opening a bakery has been a dream of hers ever since she moved to the U.S. eight years ago. “Back in France, baking was just a passion I liked to share with my friends and family. Right before we moved here, I passed the exam to become a pastry chef and I thought that maybe one day I could turn my passion into my dream job!” she shares. As she settled in America, she began posting her work on social media, which prompted requests to purchase her goods. Participating in farmers’ markets and pop-up events gave Vandecasteele the confidence to take the leap and start her own bakery. “I finally found a cute little spot where I can really picture my business growing,” she says. “The place I found is perfect to recreate a typical French bakery atmosphere, where people walk in and smell fresh bread and croissants.” Hoping to bring something unique to the Lehigh Valley food scene, Vandecasteele says her shop will showcase French savoir-faire, focusing on typical pastries and baked goods such as croissants, baguettes, tarts and other classic desserts. Eventually, Sophistiqué will also offer savory French goods like quiches and Croque Monsieur. “Everything will be made from scratch with quality ingredients,” she says.
924 W. Walnut St., Allentown | 610.618.2311 | Facebook: chefsophievd | Instagram: chef __sophie
Published as “Trending Now” in the December 2024 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
