Passion; an intense desire of enthusiasm for something. I put a lot of passion into everything I do, especially food, flavors, and creativity. When I was just seven years old, I knew I loved to cook. My first oven, a Betty Crocker Easy Bake Oven, was in our basement. I liked to take the box cake mix and use it as a base for cookies. My first creation was called “A Walnut Western Cookie.”
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest in a rural community of North Vancouver British Columbia. I have a very supportive and loving husband, who jumps in to lend a hand at catering events or when needed. We have 5 children between us, and two Labrador retrievers. I am a self-taught cook/chef. My Aunt and my grandmother both gave me a lot of inspiration and joy to tag along with them as they cooked from scratch. My Grandmother would bake homemade bread and cinnamon rolls, I can still remember the aromas that were mesmerizing.
Flashing back to 2020 pandemic, lock down, I had the hardest time trying to make bread from home as we live at about 9000 feet. I tried bread machines, I tried different flours, it was a constant guessing game, until I came across a Bakery out of New York City, that bakes “No Knead” bread. Bingo, I was finally able to bake bread and my journey began. I didn’t immediately make perfect bread and it took lots of trial and error to finally perfect it. I started by giving it away to friends and family, as no one could go out to eat, with most restaurants being closed.
Bread evolved to meals ordered from my website, and I would deliver with mask and sometimes just leave their orders by the front door, without physical contact. I did for this nearly 2 years. Flash forward to today, in 2024. I own and operate a food trailer, Laura’s Artisan, which sits in town at the Powerhouse. This is my commercial kitchen, where my magic happens. Since, the end of 2022 to today, I have a thriving catering clientele, in which I specialize in small to medium size celebrations of all kinds from birthdays to weddings and everything in between. My food trailer opens mostly in late Spring through mid-Fall for walk up or pick-up orders. I am excited to be opening a second location called, Laura’s Artisan Café within Sustainable Goods at 1259 Main in downtown Durango, beginning in April with “Grab n Go” sandwiches, breakfast burritos, jar salads, homemade soups, sauces and of course bread.
It has been a ride, a rollercoaster at times. I continue to learn each day and pride myself developing new ideas and techniques.
Laura’s Artisan “Simple, Affordable and Delicious”