Paola Velez Celebrates BODEGA BAKES with Ashley Huston - B&N - Philadelphia

Join in collaboration with Sisterly Love Collective’s Cookbook & Convos on Thursday, October 3rd at 5:30pm for a discussion and signing with , author of ! Velez's debut is a baking book bursting with joy that will have you hightailing it to the oven—and planning a trip to your local corner store. Paola Velez will be joined in conversation by baker Ashley Huston, founder of DreamWorld Bakes, a custom cake studio & soon to be bakery in Philadelphia.

This discussion is a preview of Cookbooks & Convos, an annual celebration of cookbook authors and chefs, that is taking place between October 8th and 22nd throughout restaurants, bakeries, cafes and other venues in Philadelphia. For a full line up of events, see www.cookbooksandconvos.com. Sisterly Love Collective, a program of Les Dames d’Escoffier Philadelphia, is a 501(c) 3 that provides networking, mentorship and support to women entrepreneurs in the food & beverage space.

We ask that all attendees register for a ticket through Eventbrite and purchase their copy of the book at our Philadelphia Barnes & Noble location.

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For Seated Tickets: Limited quantity is available and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Purchase of a ticket guarantees entrance to the event for the discussion and signing. However, this ticket may not necessarily guarantee a seat at the event, as later arrivals may be placed in a line behind the seated audience.

For Standing Room-Only Tickets: Limited quantity is available and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Purchase of a ticket guarantees entrance to the event for the discussion and signing. Ticket holders will be granted a standing view from behind the seated audience -- some views may be more limited/obstructed than others.

• Please arrive on time according to your ticket in order to secure your seat in the event space. Late arrivals may only have access to standing room and may not have the opportunity to enter the event space.
• The exact time at which the event ends will be determined on the day. To avoid disappointment, we strongly advise you to arrive on time for the event.

• All event guidelines are subject to change.

• If you have any additional questions, please can call the store directly at: (267) 234-9790.

• Barnes & Noble may cancel this event at any time with or without notice to the ticket holders.

Please note that Eventbrite is the only authorized dealer for this event.

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Paola Velez is a James Beard Award-nominated pastry chef who was raised in New York City and the Dominican Republic. She is the cofounder of Bakers Against Racism, is the founder of the pop-up dining series Doña Dona and Dōekï Dōekï, and is the former executive pastry chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant Maydan in Washington, DC. She was named Food & Wine’s best new chef and Cherry Bombe’s “Person of the Year” in 2021, and currently serves as a culinary diplomat for the United States. She lives in Washington, DC.

Growing up in the Bronx, Paola Velez’s happy place was the bodega, a unique world full of color and flavor where the shelves were stocked with everything from M&M’s to Muenster cheese to majarete (Caribbean corn pudding)—and, of course, its own cat (IYKYK). Before she was the James Beard–nominated chef, Cherry Bombe cover girl, social media darling, and cofounder of the grassroots social action network, Bakers Against Racism, Paola was a bodega kid with a taste for Warheads, Hostess cupcakes, ice pops, and Malta soda.
Paola’s debut cookbook, inspired by these treasures and other ingredients available at corner stores everywhere, is a love letter to both her Dominican heritage and her New York City roots; its more than 100 recipes burst with distinctive flavors, inviting you to enjoy new takes on her childhood favorites and yours. Paola’s combination of classical training and self-taught pastry skills means her recipes are accessible no matter your skill level. She’ll be your hype girl through more ambitious projects (you can make a turnover—and a Guava and Cheese one at that), as well as more “set it and forget it” treats, like her Maria Cookie Icebox Cake. Whatever you do, don’t sleep on her signature Thick’ems—giant cookies that are somehow crunchy and gooey—the most requested recipe in Paola’s repertoire and the recipe that made her internet famous, which she shares here for the very first time here. With renditions of traditional Caribbean desserts like Pineapple Empanadillas and Golden Rum Cake alongside twists on classic American treats like sticky buns and brownies, Paola’s unique recipes and infectious positive spirit will help you recreate the magic of the bodega at home—BYO cat.

Ashley Huston is the owner and head chef of Dream World Bakes, an artisanal micro-bakery based in Philadelphia that specializes in bespoke cakes and other seasonally inspired baked goods. Having spent nearly a decade cutting her teeth in the city’s white-hot food scene, Huston has confidently secured her place among this generation’s top creative culinary minds. For proof, look no further than her recent accolade in the Philadelphia Magazine, where she received the 2024 award for Best of Philly.

Raised in Philadelphia, Huston has throughout her entire life been drawn to the community-enhancing qualities of well-crafted meals. Growing up in a large and oftentimes fluid family setting, she found comfort and solid footing among the most basic human forms of creation: cooking.

Huston’s baked goods draw heavily from a wide range of cultures and culinary traditions due to her voracious desire to constantly seek out new flavors and her love of international travel. Having spent two years teaching English in rural Tanzania with the Peace Corps a short while after graduating from college, she realized how crucial it is to experience firsthand the entire spectrum of human culinary expression.

Prior to founding DreamWorld, an entity that initially grew out of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, Huston was an owner and head chef at Franny Lou’s Porch—a community-based food and event space in Kensington. She holds a BA in finance from Temple University and most recently created Patti la Belle’s 80th birthday cake! Huston will open DreamWorld’s first brick and mortar location this year.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Barnes & Noble - Philadelphia, 1708 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, United States