Meet Erica Bentson | Pastry Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Bentson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had owned my own bakery in Portland, OR for 14 years. After selling it in 2018, I never thought I would be self employed again. I was enjoying the perks of being an employee…most importantly, leaving work at work and having weekends off. And when I moved to Phoenix in April of 2022, I had every intention of working for someone else, but the urge to be my own boss again was looming over me. I lasted 2 days at a job that I knew wasn’t right for me, then the next week, I found a bakery for sale in Gilbert.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am so proud of what we have built up, over this past year especially. My previous bakery in Portland, I built myself over the years, which I am super proud of. But it’s been different here as I purchased an already established bakery, one that was named after the previous owner. It took several months for me to feel like I could move beyond what was established and make it my own. There were a lot of fears that standing customers would not accept me as the new owner. But we’ve been welcomed with open arms, not losing any of the venues that had been established. I’m so grateful for the the response the business has received. I have been a Pastry Chef for nearly 30 years now. And I finally feel I’ve come into my own here.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I LOVE living in the East Valley butI hate to admit, I’m still learning the area. But coming from the PNW, it’s all about coffee for me. A couple of my favorites are Pair Cupworks in Mesa and Peixoto Coffee in Gilbert. So good! Shopping around the Farmer’s Market on a Saturday morning in Gilbert has also been a stop when friends come to visit as was The Olive Mill in Queen Creek. When I do get into Phoenix, one of my favorite places to have a drink is Six Byrd Cider in Arcadia. They have some of the best ciders I’ve ever had, as does Cider Corps in Mesa. All of these are some of my favorite places to take friends or just hang out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My dad had been an entrepreneur himself, but he passed away before he was able to see any of the success I had in Portland with my bakery. So definitely a Shoutout to him for inspiring me. But I’ve come to realize, it’s about who you surround yourself with. I’ve had some amazing and talented employees along the way, both here and at my previous bakery. Everyone of them has contributed to my success along the way.

Website: www.whiskandpaddleaz.com

Instagram: @whiskandpaddle_az

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/erica-bentson-50340332

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whiskandpaddle.az

Yelp: Whisk & Paddle Bakeshop

Image Credits
Danielle Applebach Photography