Feeding her friends

Laurel Brost, owner of The Pastry Shop in Trail, likes being a part of the community and knowing her customers

Laurel Brost has owned and operated The Pastry Shop in Trail, B.C., since 2008. — Photo courtesy Laurel Brost

The Pastry Shop opened in Trail over 40 years ago, and after working there for 12 years, Laurel Brost bought the bakery in 2008. She operates The Pastry Shop with a staff of seven, and said that though the shop officially opens at 9 a.m., she has been known to let customers in early if they knock on the door.

“I love living in this small town,” Brost said. “I love the sense of community, and knowing my customers.”

Do you have a favourite cookbook or other place where you find inspiration for your culinary creations?

We do bread, buns, pastries, squares, doughnuts, cakes, pies, cookies, muffins—all from scratch. If someone brings an idea to us that we decide to try, we try to adapt our own recipes to it. We Google, of course, if we need to.

Is there a particular chef or cook that has influenced your cooking style?

My mom inspired me as a kid. She gave me my first Easy Bake Oven and that was it—I was hooked. I learned a lot from my former employer, and of course I wanted to find ways to do things even better and more effectively.

We’ve improved the esthetics of the front of the house, and added new items to the menu. I care about the business, and I’m really committed to the quality of my product—I want to be proud of what we sell, and I want the community to be proud of it too.

Giving back

Brost said that she supports the community by donating gift certificates and cakes and cookies for local fundraisers. She has a particular soft spot for any cause that involves children or animals.