Flan, marzipan, gansito and guava \u2014 Stephanie Charo bakes cakes in flavors inspired by Mexican culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charo baked cakes for her friends and family for years before opening her business, SC\u2019s Cake Studio in Berwyn. When she was let go from her job two years ago, she took it as an opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always had the dream, and that\u2019s what I tell people now,\u201d says Charo. \u201cSometimes, starting from zero is the best time to start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charo\u2019s family is from Acapulco, Mexico, and she remembers the flan vendors on the beach when she visited as a child. Plus, she explains that her mother\u2019s favorite flavor is guava, so it was essential to include it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGansito, marzipan are sweets that I grew up with and I decided to make them all into cupcakes,\u201d says Charo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norma Martinez, an attendant at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce\u2019s annual expo, bought four cupcakes from Charo at her booth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI actually was impressed by the flavors,\u201d said Martinez. \u201cThey all sounded very delicious. And I bought four of them, to take them home and have my kids try them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charo\u2019s cake studio is part of the Berwyn Shops program, an incubator that supports local businesses. She explains that she usually bakes her cakes at home, and the program provides her own space to sell her products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s never the right moment,\u201d says Charo. \u201cThere\u2019s never enough money. If you have a dream, just start from zero and have that dedication.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SC\u2019s Cake Studio is located at Berwyn Shops at 6931 Roosevelt Road in Berwyn and is open on Fridays and weekends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Claudia Johnson<\/strong> is a third-year student at Northwestern University studying Journalism and Biology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Publisher\u2019s Notes: <\/strong>This story, among others, was produced by undergraduate students in the bilingual reporting class at Northwestern University\u2019s Medill School of Journalism, Media & Integrated Marketing Communications. Led by Prof. Mei-Ling Hopgood, the class aims to help journalism students practice sensitive and ethical engagement and reporting with multicultural communities in Spanish and English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Photo Credit:<\/strong> Claudia Johnson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Inspired by flan, guava, marzipan and gansito, Berwyn baker Stephanie Charo turned her dream into SC\u2019s Cake Studio after losing her job and starting from 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