Me and My New Friend Hope, at the Bakery, On Her Birthday!

Last Friday was one of those magical days at the bakery that left my heart overflowing.

It started with a call from my dear friend Carlos. He and his girlfriend, Elizabeth, were dealing with a death in the family and wanted to help provide something special for everyone to enjoy after the funeral. Carlos said he knew exactly who to call when they found out that the family loved baklava. I had four flavors available and quickly began packaging their order. When they arrived, I was still wrapping things up, so we laughed and chatted while I finished. Elizabeth’s son Anthony was with them too, and the energy they brought into the bakery was such a gift.

In the middle of all that, I forgot to lock the door—and wouldn’t you know it, in walked another group! A beautiful, bubbly family of six, full of smiles and curiosity. After I said goodbye to Carlos and his crew, I welcomed this next wave of baklava lovers with open arms. They were in town to celebrate one sister’s graduation from dental school and the gal who doing most of the talking said she had heard about Sheer Ambrosia on NPR’s Marketplace and was excited when she googled us and found out we now have a store front.

I still had enough baklava left, so I gave them samples to enjoy while I packaged their boxes. We had the best time chatting. They asked about how I landed in Utah, about my kids, and about the bakery. We laughed, swapped stories, and connected like old friends. Before they left, I asked the graduate’s name and wrote her a little note of congratulations, tied the note to a box of baklava (my personal gift to her), and added a Sheer Ambrosia mug so she could enjoy her favorite drink while she enjoyed her baklava. As they walked out the door, I realized—I never even asked the name of the sweet woman I’d been talking to the whole time or her family! But my heart was so full.

Not a couple of hours later, I got an email alert—someone had left a Google and Yelp review. My heart always races a little when I see those notifications, like that nervous excitement you felt as a kid on report card day. I opened it up—and there it was, a glowing review from Rose—the very same woman I'd just spent that unforgettable 20 minutes talking to. Somehow, in the midst of their family celebration, she made time to share kind words about her experience with me. It truly made my day. You are read it below:

5 STAR REVIEW

I’ve ordered from Rita at Sheer Ambrosia before (to DC) and already knew her baklava was hands-down the best I’ve ever had—but nothing could have prepared me for the joy of meeting her in person!

I was in Salt Lake City celebrating my little sister’s graduation from dental school and when I Googled, I saw that Sheer Ambrosia now had a retail space and I just had to to check it out! I didn’t realize it was order-by-pickup/appointment only, but the universe was clearly smiling on us because Rita was there, and she had just enough leftover baklava for my family and me to buy. It felt like fate.

Not only did she greet us with free samples (while we drooled and waited for our fresh baklava to be packaged), she shared her incredible story with us, asked about ours, and made us feel so seen and special. She gifted my sister a beautifully wrapped box of baklava, a ceramic campfire mug, and a handwritten note—a handwritten note! Who does that?! Rita does!

Sheer Ambrosia doesn’t just make world-class baklava (seriously—crispy, buttery, rich, and layered with love)—it’s a reflection of the beautiful human behind it. Rita, thank you for turning an already joyful day into something unforgettable. You gave us so much more than dessert—you gave us a sweet memory that we’ll treasure forever. 💛

If you haven’t tried or ordered from Sheer Ambrosia yet, do it. Your taste buds (and heart) will thank you!

--Rose Reyling

These moments are everything to me. Yes, I love creating delicious baklava—those flaky, golden, buttery layers filled with sweet, crunchy goodness—but what I love even more is sharing moments with you. Getting to know you. Hearing your stories. Celebrating your milestones.

Also this week, I had a customer friend, Monica call from Maine about an online order she had just placed that I needed to modify. Her daughter, born in Greece, introduced her own daughters—just 3 and 6 years old—to baklava, and now it’s their favorite treat. I loved hearing her family story about how baklava has made a difference in their three generations. We laughed and agreed that we were both glad she needed to call to fix the shipping address because we enjoyed our conversation so much.

Another customer, Krista came by on Thursday to pick up baklava with her 11-year-old daughter Hope. The occasion? It was sweet Hope’s birthday. The birthday girl had saved my business card from last June because her mom promised to buy her baklava for her birthday. She arrived in the cutest birthday sash, excited as could be. I gave her a mini tour of the bakery, treated her to a sample, had wonderful conversation about her talents and hobbies (which, of course, baking is one of them) and sent her off with her baklava gift from mom and a few extra goodies from me. Her joy was contagious.

These are the moments that remind me why I do what I do. With everything going on in the world, I’ve stopped watching the news as much. Instead, I make my own news. Good news. Sweet news. Stories like these, that I get to share with you.

So here I am—Rita Roberts Magalde—reporting LIVE from Sheer Ambrosia Bakery, where love, laughter, and layers of phyllo come together to create something truly special.

Thank you for letting me be part of your lives. And thank you, as always, for being part of mine.

With a full heart,

Rita

Hope...one of Salt Lake's premier baklava connoisseurs, baker by day and cheerleader by night!

Me with Chris demoing for the class

Thank you Chris and Sofe for donating your time to our American Heart Association Fundraiser and for rekindling my tango flame. And thank you Brittany from Sugar Space for donating the venue!

In my last newsletter, I told you about a remarkable group of women I’m working with, led by the amazing Dr. Sidni Shorter, to raise money for the American Heart Association. Since I couldn’t bake my way to fundraising success (the AHA has a no-sweets policy!), I reached out to an old friend with a different kind of talent—and together, we hosted a tango class.

Yes—Argentine Tango.

Some of you may not know this, but tango was once a huge part of my life. My love affair with the dance began back in 1999, when I was pregnant with my son Leo. I was on bed rest after a previous miscarriage, and I spent my days reading, watching movies, and trying to stay hopeful. One afternoon, I stumbled across a foreign film called The Tango Lesson. It was beautifully filmed in London, Paris, and Buenos Aires and told the story of a woman falling in love with tango and the teacher who taught her to dance...Pablo Veron. I was mesmerized. Bedridden, I longed to move, to dance, to feel that kind of freedom in my body.

Fast forward years later to October 2006—a friend invited me to a local tango dance, and everything came flooding back. That movie, that feeling, that longing. I was hooked. I dove in headfirst, dancing every chance I got. When I wasn’t working or mothering, I was at a tango class or a milonga (that’s what tango dance nights are called). By December of that year, I was in Buenos Aires dancing the nights away, completely immersed in the world of tango. I even had the opportunity to meet Mr. Pablo Veron himself (who was in town from Paris) and take a private lesson of my own with him at his family home. Talk about full circle!!!

But as Sheer Ambrosia began to grow, tango slowly faded into the background. The bakery demanded more of my time and energy, and I gave it—willingly. Then the pandemic hit, and like so many things, tango disappeared altogether. Close contact dancing was off the table, and I couldn’t risk getting sick—I had a business to run and people depending on me.

Since then, I’ve told myself there just wasn’t time. No room in the schedule for dancing.

Until this past Tuesday.

As part of our fundraiser, I dusted off my old tango shoes, slipped them on, and took to the floor with my dear friend Chris. And would you believe it? My body remembered. The music started, and just like that, I was gliding across the floor, feeling more alive than I have in a long time.

In that moment, I realized how much I had missed it. How much I had been missing.

Don’t get me wrong—I love my work. I love the bakery. But it hit me that there’s room in my life for more than just work. There has to be. I can love my business without letting it consume me. I can feed others with sweet, flaky baklava and also nourish my own soul with dance.

So here’s to making space for joy, for movement, for music. Here’s to the reminder that our passions can coexist. That it’s not selfish to make time for the things that light us up—it’s necessary.

Sheer Ambrosia is my heart. But tango is my rhythm. And I think it’s time to dance again.

With love and a twirl,

Rita

January 2015 - Me escaping the Salt Lake City winter and the bakery for a weekend of tango in warm, sunny San Diego.

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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SHEER AMBROSIA! I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR BUSINESS, FRIENDSHIP, AND GOODWILL!

-Peace, Love, and Baklava Forever,

Rita Magalde