Bodega Bakes by Paola Velez

Published by Union Square & Co., October 2024

Winner: Paola Velez for 2025 James Beard Foundation Awards, Emerging Voice

When I was presented with the opportunity to bring Paola Velez’s PaolaVision™️ to life in her debut cookbook Bodega Bakes, my technicolor heart skipped a beat.

This dream cookbook project instantly drew me in with Paola’s memoir-like writing and how she melds her Afro-Dominican heritage with her upbringing in the Bronx and the homage she pays to the humble yet-ever-important NYC bodega. Joy oozes off every page as each image is juicy, delectable, and above all, colorful.

This book is highly accessible for those who buy store-bought cookie dough to professional pastry chefs. Its equity in ease of recipes harkens to Paola’s advocacy because delicious treats ARE for all (you don’t need fancy equipment if you don’t have it)!