Pies & Tacos?

Meet Blogger Camila Hurst

THE FORCE BEHIND THE INSTAGRAM SENSATION...

WRITTEN BY THERESA ST. JOHN | PHOTOS PROVIDED

“Grandmothers are voices of the past and role models of the present. Grandmothers open the doors to the future.” - Helen Ketchum

“The first thing we should probably talk about is my grandmother,” Camila tells me with a far-away look in her eye. We’re sitting together enjoying a strong cup of coffee and fresh pastry at Mrs. London’s – one of my favorite places in downtown Saratoga and the perfect spot to talk about fond childhood memories. “She owned a bakery for 50-plus years, down the street from my house. I remember visiting the shop every day while growing up.” I love stories like this one; strong family ties, one generation learning from the one before. I have a gazillion heart-warming recollections myself. Listening to Camila fills me with a myriad of emotions – all of them tied to nostalgia. “My grandmother was such a hard worker, waking up before the sun each morning to bake her selection of bread. She only took one day off during the year, which was Christmas. She worked tirelessly, and her work ethic? It was insane – something you don’t always see today.” I can hear both pride and love in this granddaughter’s voice. “Grandma moved from Portugal to Brazil when she was just a child. I admire how she was an immigrant who found her way in another country. Being an immigrant myself, helps me relate to some of the things she must have gone through all those years ago.” “Her story must inspire you,” I say. “It does!” Camila replies. “My grandfather was also an immigrant, and at one point, they both owned bakeries. Grandpa eventually sold his business and went to work with my grandmother and her siblings.” I ask if the bakery still exists. I wonder if the family still owns it – would it someday be passed down? “My grandmother just turned 81,” Camila confides. “But my grandfather passed away a few years ago, and all of the siblings are older now, so the family decided to sell the shop.” Camila shares recollections of her grandmother’s dedication to baking – and how she’d look at the shop’s glass cases filled with a variety of tempting sweets. “It’s funny,” she tells me. “Every time I bake, I see the past and find myself striving to make something worthy to be in a bakery’s window too.” Camila explains how, when she first started her blog/business, she loved pies and tacos. “I still love them,” she grins at me over her coffee cup. “But you’re all about macarons now!” I smile back at her.

“I know. But because I started on Instagram in June of 2017, then began my blog in October of that same year, it made sense to keep the brand. Everyone seems to know me under that name.” A petite woman, Camila, comes from Brazil. She was born in 1989, and English is her 2nd Language. In December of 2011, she came to America on a student exchange program, working at a few different places – like McDonald’s in Latham and The Golden Corral. “From the moment I arrived in the US, I felt like I’d found my place in the world.” I can hear so many emotions in her voice as she speaks. At the moment, Camila is studying to become a US citizen. “I’m excited to say my test to become an American citizen is right around the corner – May 25th, 2021.” Congrats! If you look at Camila’s Instagram feed, you’ll see it’s filled with amazing photos and videos of macarons - and none of them are ordinary. My favorite shaped one is the penguin - but she’s designed several others as well. She also works on original recipes. “I’m all about experimenting with flavors, textures, the best ingredients,” she tells me. “There’s something magical about creating specialty macarons that are my own. And I love arranging them for photographs afterward.” I’d have to agree with that – food-styling is so much fun for a photographer! Camila has already published a cookbook - all about cupcakes. I bought a copy for my son and daughter-in-law. They’re obsessed with it. Now she’s working on a book about the very best macarons. (Are you drooling yet?) When Camila shares that the publication date is March 1st, 2022, I assure her I’ll be standing in line to buy that one as soon as the doors open. I’m impressed to learn she recently taught at the 1st virtual Bakersfest, sharing ways other bakers can write and publish a cookbook themselves. When I ask about her husband Brian, Camila grins from ear to ear. “We met through a mutual friend,” She takes a bite of her pastry and continues. “We have a son, Lucas, who’s five years old.” The family hasn’t been back to Brazil since 2018, but they look forward to a time when things have settled down from the pandemic and travel is open again. “I miss my family and hope to give them all a great big hug soon.” Camila doesn’t sell her baked goods, but her blog is all about teaching you how to bake like she does, with purpose, love and determination. Spending time on her blog is like spending time with her… over pastries and hot cup of coffee! She works full-time on her blog and is an affiliate to many big companies. Anyone who’s in the blogging world understands that monetizing your brand can pay your bills and then some. Down the road, she tells me she might teach an online course. She’s a smart cookie (no pun intended), and I’ve no doubt she’ll do just that! “In general, people hold back, afraid to do what they love,” Camila looks thoughtful when I ask what advice she’d give others. “I would tell them to be authentic and follow their passion. Have the courage to create something extraordinary, the courage to share that with the world.” Talk about the wise words of young people.

Places you can find Camila: Camila@piesandtacos.com Instagram.com/piesandtacos Twitter.com/piesandtacos Facebook.com/piesandtacos Pinterest.com/piesandtacos SS