Growing up in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan was rough after my mother suddenly passed away from an unknown condition. It was hard on my dad losing the love of his life and raising a six year old as a single parent. The only thing that kept us moving forward was our passion for dance. My parents were both dancers, so I spent most of my childhood and teenage years in dance studios and on stage performing around the world. But I knew even back then that I couldn’t perform forever and eventually would need to start teaching. I didn’t have the desire to teach, and the problem was; I didn’t know how to do anything else.
I wasn’t like the other girls who loved to spend time in the kitchen, cooking and baking for their relatives and significant others. Everyone would make fun of me for not knowing how to use a spatula. They all agreed that I would make a terrible housewife and it would hurt my chances of ever being married. Then in 2009 I got hooked on the famous television show “Cake Boss.” After binge watching the entire season, I decided that a baker is what I was born to be! My first attempt at baking anything was a cheesecake, and to my surprise it turned out fairly enjoyable. With a little confidence boost, I made a batch of French Macarons. They didn’t look like macarons, in fact they were down right ugly, but they were very delicious. Several years later, as I continued to bake and perfect my skills as a decorator, I began providing coffee shops around the Los Angeles area with my macarons. They were a huge hit!
In 2017 I joined the So Yummy team as one of their bakers and food stylists. It was here where I really began to hone my craft. Some of my videos that I created hit 50 million views on Facebook. Despite all the success I had over there, I felt like I was missing something. It soon dawned on me that I love to watch people’s faces light up with joy as they bite into one of my desserts. I knew at that moment that I had to move on from making top down videos for the internet, and so I packed up my things and moved from California to Salem, Oregon. My husband and I vacationed there a few times and we just fell in love with the town and the people. Together he and I created Kordos Bakery,now known as Bisous Pastries. We are selling my confections at the Salem Farmer’s Market for everyone to enjoy. And I really hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy baking them.
- Niyara <3