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Sheer Ambrosia Newsletter October 2024
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***Entire Holiday Gift Crate Contents***
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Expanding the Sweet Experience: Sheer Ambrosia’s New Offerings
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I am excited to announce that Sheer Ambrosia is expanding its range of delectable treats! While our signature baklava, with its 14 delicious flavors, will always remain a favorite, our new, larger kitchen has allowed us to introduce even more delightful creations. Although new to the Sheer Ambrosia menu, these products have been cherished recipes of mine for years—each perfected over time. After months of refining the packaging, portion sizes, and presentation, I'm thrilled to finally share them with you.
To enhance your Sheer Ambrosia experience, we’ve also partnered with local artisans and suppliers to bring you a variety of complementary items. Our expanded lineup now includes carefully curated teas, coffee, hot chocolate, candles, aprons, and branded mugs. These new additions will be showcased in our 2025 calendar, titled Baklava and Beyond: Savor the New Flavors of Sheer Ambrosia, and are being added to our website.
One of the highlights of this expansion is our beautifully crafted HOLIDAY GIFT CRATE, blending our beloved baklava with the new items. Made from pine wood by a local carpenter, each crate includes:
- 1 12-piece box of Traditional Honey Walnut Baklava
- 1 lb. bag of Earthy Endeavors: Rita's Amazing Granola, a Sheer Ambrosia Original
- 1 lb. bag of Leo's Finest Premium House Blend Coffee with cinnamon notes (sourced from a top local roaster)
- 1 tin of tea (sourced from a top-tier tea connoisseur)
- 1 tin of hot chocolate (sourced from a Honduran-American woman-owned business passionate about quality chocolate)
- 5 loaded chocolate chip cookies (Sheer Ambrosia Original)
- 5 ginger snap cookies (Sheer Ambrosia Original)
- 5 Greek butter cookies (Kourabiedes) made with my cherished 35-year-old recipe
- 1 chocolate hazelnut biscotti (Sheer Ambrosia Original)
- 1 classic almond biscotti (Sheer Ambrosia Original)
- 1 branded apron in our signature colors
- 1 candle from a local woman-owned candle company
- 2 mugs featuring the Sheer Ambrosia logo
- 1 2025 calendar created with the help of a talented local photographer and an amazing stylist—special thanks to Jason West and Alex Bingham!
- To hold all the goodies, 1 handcrafted pine crate made by Black Horn Creations, another local artisan!
If you're looking for the ideal holiday gift for that foodie friend, colleague, client, or family member who seems to have everything, your search stops here! Sheer Ambrosia has meticulously curated a gift crate designed to delight the senses of any food lover. Every item has been carefully selected for its exceptional quality—only the finest made the cut. I hope these new treats bring as much joy to you and your loved ones as I’ve experienced in creating and choosing them. This is more than just a gift—it's an unforgettable experience that any foodie will cherish!
The crate is priced at $250, and we anticipate selling out quickly, as we can only create 150 of them this holiday season. If you're interested in purchasing, please call or email us to get on the list for however many you'd like.
Visit our website to explore our full range of offerings. Below, you’ll find a sneak peek of some of our new products along with their descriptions. We’re working on securing the best shipping options for these delightful treats, but local customers can always purchase and pick up directly from our bakery.
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Earthy Endeavors – Rita’s Amazing Granola
Get ready to taste the best granola you've ever had! Our Earthy Endeavors Granola strikes the perfect balance of flavors and textures, packed with all the good stuff. We start with hearty oats, then mix in a generous helping of almonds and pecans. The “earthy” flavor comes from pure organic maple syrup, organic coconut oil, and brown sugar, with just the right touch of vanilla and dried fruit for a delightful finish.
It’s the ideal breakfast when paired with your favorite milk or as a topping for Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey. Whether you enjoy it in the morning or as a snack, it’s bound to become your go-to. And the best part? It’s made fresh in-house at Sheer Ambrosia Bakery. |
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Gourmet Ginger Snaps
The "snap" in these delicious cookies is all about the flavor! We’ve added a hint of black pepper, ground ginger, and clove to create a bold, spiced treat that excites your taste buds, not your teeth. Soft with just the right amount of crunch, they offer the perfect balance of texture while delivering those cozy, fall-inspired flavors. If you're looking for an elevated version of the ginger snap cookies you loved as a child, these are the ones. Indulge in this delightful, nostalgic treat—you won’t be disappointed! |
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Kourabiedes – Greek Butter Cookies
Affectionately named Sofia’s Snowballs after my daughter, these traditional Greek holiday cookies hold a special place in my heart as they were the first Greek dessert I ever learned to make. Kourabiedes are buttery, crumbly, and perfectly sweet without being too sugary, despite their generous coating of powdered sugar. While there are countless variations of this cookie, I’ve remained faithful to the recipe I learned over 35 years ago. Filled with toasted walnuts, these cookies offer a rich, earthy goodness—a true taste of Greece, and now a tribute to my daughter, Sofia. |
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From Home Kitchen to Commercial Bakery: Sheer Ambrosia's Bold Leap & Exciting Milestones Throughout 2024
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Me, Rita Magalde, Founder and CEO standing proudly in front of my bakery.
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| This year has been nothing short of a whirlwind since I received my certificate of occupancy on January 9th and officially opened the doors to Sheer Ambrosia’s new commercial bakery. Moving the business out of my home kitchen has been a huge challenge but also a game-changing decision. I’ve always believed that the biggest rewards come from taking risks, and playing small has never been my style. Now, as I reflect on the past months, it’s clearer than ever that this bold step—though nerve-wracking because of the debt involved—has been absolutely worth it.
Since relocating, I've worked hard to expand and elevate Sheer Ambrosia. One of the most significant milestones has been securing three key certifications: Minority-Owned Business [received], Woman-Owned Business [should have this one in hand soon], and the coveted ACDBE (Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) certification [received] which is a program run by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to help small businesses compete for airport contracting opportunities.
These accreditations required loads of paperwork, site visits, and interviews spanning months, but I’m thrilled to have received two out of three with the third on the way! The ACDBE certification, in particular, opens up the possibility of selling my baklava in airports nationwide, giving Sheer Ambrosia a place at the table that previously seemed out of reach for small businesses like mine. None of this would have been possible if I had still been operating from home.
Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to receive two grants since moving into the new space. One of them is covering my rent for six months—thanks to Dr. Sidni Shorter for pointing me to this opportunity. The other grant, valued at $10,000, will be used to create a marketing video for Sheer Ambrosia. A special thank you to Steve Williams a friend and employee at Spy Hop - Film, Audio, Music, Design for sharing this application. I’ve already met with the production team, and we’re brainstorming to craft an ad that will build incredible momentum for the brand.
Sheer Ambrosia is also set to be featured on the cover of the November issue of Utah Business Magazine alongside two other local businesses, thanks to our holiday gift offerings. This feature will spotlight our companies because of our beautiful and thoughtful gift options for the upcoming season, and I’m honored that Sheer Ambrosia made the cut.
Expanding our wholesale business has been another exciting development, with three new locations added to our partnerships: two Alpha Coffee shops and one Hyatt Place hotel. Being able to partner with other local businesses and seeing our products in more locations has been a dream come true.
I’m also grateful for the support from the Salt Lake Chamber. Joining the Chamber has brought many new opportunities, including a feature on their “Speaking on Business” podcast, which aired on our local KSL radio station during the morning and evening commutes. It was a great way to reach more people and share the Sheer Ambrosia story.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of this journey has been my recent appointment to the board of Habitat for Humanity in Salt Lake City. This is a cause close to my heart, and it’s a chance to give back to the community in a meaningful way. It’s a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out to be of service. While I’m still in the trenches building my own legacy, I’m committed to helping others find stability and community through affordable housing. I’m excited to work alongside its CEO, Carin Crowe and her incredible team and use my skills to make a difference. Thank you Carin for recognizing that although I don't have deep pockets, I still can add lots of value to Habitat for Humanity.
These are just a few highlights of what has been an incredible year. Yes, I’m still nervous—debt is always daunting, and I don’t have a safety net if things don’t go as planned. But I’m certain that none of these blessings would have come to fruition if I hadn’t taken the leap to move out of my home kitchen and into a commercial space. I’m going to keep pushing forward, working hard to bake the best treats possible, while collaborating with passionate people who share my love for baking. I’ll continue filling out grant applications, submitting proposals, and attending events that help Sheer Ambrosia grow.
Ultimately, I love what I do, I love who I work with, and I love who I work for. You—my baklava family—are the reason I’m here, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next. Together, we will continue to grow Sheer Ambrosia, one delicious pastry at a time. |
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A Surprising Honor at the Inaugural Black Wealth Conference
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First Ever Black Wealth Conference in Utah
Dr. Sidni Lloyd-Shorter, President & CEO of the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce, me, and Ashley D. Bell, President of Redemption Holding.
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Back on August 14th, I shared this on social media, but for those who missed it, I have to tell you about an incredible surprise I received. I had the privilege of attending Salt Lake City’s inaugural Black Wealth Conference, hosted by the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce. The event was filled with inspiring speakers, innovative ideas, strategic insights, and engaging discussions. It brought together a diverse group of people, all eager to learn strategies for improving their financial futures. I left the conference feeling uplifted, motivated, and supported by my community.
I had the opportunity to meet many incredible people and contribute my own efforts to support the cause. On the evening of the first day, I was scheduled to set up a booth to sell my baklava, which meant I had to leave a bit early to pick up inventory and set up my tent. But just before I left, I received a thrilling surprise—I was announced as one of three recipients of a generous $5,000 prize to be deposited into the new Black-owned bank coming to Utah, Redemption Holding! As the winners were called up to receive our awards, the bank’s president, Ashley D. Bell, revealed that once the bank officially opens, our $5,000 in shares would quadruple. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and couldn’t hold back my tears of joy. Even months later, I still get emotional thinking about that moment.
I owe a huge thank you to Dr. Sidni Lloyd-Shorter and the Utah Black Chamber for organizing such a brilliant wealth conference—you never disappoint! My appreciation also goes out to all the speakers, panelists, emcee Christopher J. McKinley, Jr., facilitators, planners, helpers, and attendees who helped create such a powerful, positive synergy. Together, we are building a stronger, more prosperous future.
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Another Sneak Peek Photo of What's Coming to Sheer Ambrosia's Menu:
Sweet Sofia’s Hazelnut and Almond Biscotti
As a lover of old-world cookies, adding biscotti to my menu was a must. I started making them over 11 years ago and have perfected more than a dozen recipes since. Today, I’m offering two of my top flavors: Chocolate Hazelnut and Almond. True to their name, these twice-baked treats are perfect for dunking into your favorite hot beverage. With the classic European flavors of hazelnut and almond, they offer a subtle sweetness that makes them the ideal snack to have on hand for any time of day. |
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Final Message: If You Are Local...Join Me This Friday in Salt Lake! I'll Be the Guest Speaker.
Reserve your free ticket: https://lnkd.in/gRvFGcHn
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Next target market: Florists! 🌸 A box of Sheer Ambrosia would be the perfect complement to a beautiful bouquet of flowers!
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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
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Sheer Ambrosia Newsletter - JULY 2024
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Welcoming a New Team Member to Sheer Ambrosia
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| For some time, I've needed to hire someone to help me create the baklava I am so proud of, but fear, my need for control, and working from home held me back for so long. I have always strove for perfection, and the only way I could ensure that, was by doing it myself. That approach makes no business sense at all. If Sheer Ambrosia is to grow, allowing me to share my passion with more people, I've known deep down that I would eventually need to hire and teach others my way of making baklava. And besides, this is part of the reason I invested so much money on a new commercial kitchen! The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, which I mentioned in the last newsletter, helped me push aside my fear and take the necessary steps to move forward.
Once I was determined to hire someone, I took advice from an awesome customer-turned-friend, Rob Brunt. Years ago, he suggested I consider hiring from the Afghan community he had affiliations with through his church. This idea was brilliant for many reasons. Firstly, Afghanistan has baklava in its culture, so anyone I hire would likely be familiar with and not intimated by phyllo dough, the thinnest dough in the world. Secondly, I wanted to hire women, especially responsible moms who might need a part-time job. Lastly, I have experience working with immigrant women from my first successful business, Amigo Travel. They were hardworking, grateful to have good jobs and were instrumental in helping my co-founder and I build a world class company.
On May 30, I hired my first baklava assembler from Afghanistan. For cultural, religious, and personal preference she prefers to stay anonymous and does not want her photo taken. While she speaks little English, we make it work. She understands some, but it’s the language of baklava that makes all the difference. On her first day, I set up two workstations facing each other, and through our expressions, eye contact, counting, smiles and observations, she got it!
She is a mother, has a kind heart and a strong work ethic. She assembles baklava, washes dishes, folds boxes, and keeps everything clean and tidy so I can focus on other aspects of the business.
During her interview, which she attended with her teenage daughter as translator, she told me she only spoke 3% English. I decided to give her a chance anyway. I know what it's like to live in a foreign country and not completely understand the systems and language. It's been over a month now, and I love having her here. Although I can't communicate with her as much as I’d like, maybe that’s a good thing because we get so much work done. Ha! Ha! I will satisfy my curiosity later as her English improves. The good news is we make an excellent team. We work well together, and it feels like this was meant to be. So, welcome to the Sheer Ambrosia family. I hope she will be part of our growth for many years to come. |
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Announcing Sheer Ambrosia's New Digital Gift Cards!
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| I am so excited to announce that Sheer Ambrosia now offers digital or "e" gift cards! This is something I've wanted to implement for a long time, but I hadn't had the time to figure out the logistics. Thanks to my new helper in the bakery and the support of my website company, we’ve finally made it happen.
These gift cards are PERFECT for those last-minute gift needs. Simply visit our website, select the denomination you’d like to purchase, choose the appropriate card (we have lots of options for almost any occasion, including "just because"), fill out the necessary information, including a personal message to the recipient, and voila—your gift card is ready! The recipient will receive their gift card directly in their email inbox.
No more worrying about last-minute orders. With our new digital gift cards, you can give the perfect gift instantly, and the recipient can choose exactly what they want. |
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Barney Boyton - Founder and CEO of Go Pave Utah
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How Go Pave Utah
Builds Lasting Client Relationships
w/ Sheer Ambrosia's
Baklava of the Month Club
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| I am thrilled to introduce you to Barney Boyton, the owner of Go Pave Utah. I met Barney in January during our participation in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. He is a prominent figure in the paving industry, known for his passion, commitment to perfection, and strong belief in the importance of customer service and appreciation.
Since our meeting, Barney has been a tremendous supporter of Sheer Ambrosia. He is a generous gift-giver who values quality and thoughtfulness. Recognizing the unique appeal of Sheer Ambrosia’s Baklava of the Month offering, Barney has been gifting subscriptions to his clients as a way to show his gratitude. He loves receiving unexpected phone calls each month from delighted recipients and cherishes the enthusiastic responses he gets.
Barney recently mentioned, while placing another order for a valued client, that Sheer Ambrosia is the perfect tool for building relationships. He sees it as smart business to express appreciation to his clients, and our Baklava of the Month Club helps him keep Go Pave Utah top of mind while demonstrating his gratitude. It's a winning situation for Go Pave Utah, Sheer Ambrosia, and Barney's customers, who get to enjoy our unique, sophisticated, and delicious baklava. Each gift box is personalized with Go Pave Utah’s logo on the gift tag, making it even more special.
Make use of this beautiful tool in your arsenal. Let Sheer Ambrosia help you show the people in your life that you care. Whether for your business or a personal gift for a friend, we are here to help you stand out and convey your heartfelt messages. |
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A Sweet Collaboration:
Sheer Ambrosia and
Red Rock Candle Co.
While I started Sheer Ambrosia in 2008, as a single mom, I often had to take on second jobs to support my family. In 2017, while working as an insurance adjuster at Progressive Insurance, I met Patrick, a fellow employee. We stayed in touch after I left to pursue Sheer Ambrosia full-time. One day, Patrick reached out to let me know his daughter, Brianna, had started a candle business called Red Rock Candle Co. She gave me a couple of samples, and while I couldn't collaborate with her at that time, I kept her in mind.
Now that I have a commercial space to bake and sell, I reached out to Brianna to explore a potential collaboration. We have since worked together to create two candle scents inspired by my baklava flavors, with a third scent coming in time for Christmas. I'm excited to introduce the Apple Pie Walnut and Sugar Plum candle scents, now available under the Sheer Ambrosia brand. If you're local, you can purchase these beautiful candles in my shop. For those who live farther away, I will be offering them on my website soon.
These candles will also be featured in Sheer Ambrosia’s new holiday gift baskets, which will include our world famous baklava, kourabiedes (a Greek shortbread/butter cookie)...the first Greek dessert I ever learned to make, my special granola and biscotti recipes, Sheer Ambrosia coffee and tea sourced from the best in the business, two mugs, and a delightful Red Rock/Sheer Ambrosia candle to set the mood. More details on the gift baskets will be shared later.
I am incredibly proud of Brianna and her candle business. She makes her candles with the highest quality materials, ensuring a clean, long-lasting burn that gently fills your space with glorious scents. She pours her heart into every candle. She is an amazing young entrepreneur who has also developed a line of candles for the airport...WOW! She is growing her business while growing her family—congratulations on the new baby, Brianna! To learn more about her business, please visit www.redrockcandleco.com. |
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SHEER AMBROSIA! I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR BUSINESS, FRIENDSHIP, AND GOODWILL! Also, thank you for reading my newsletter! I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. I will never take you for granted!
-Peace, Love, and Baklava Forever,
Rita Magalde
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Sheer Ambrosia Newsletter - May 2024
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A Father's Day Tribute: Celebrating My Dad & My Special Offer To You!
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| 1983 - Me and my father at my sister's wedding. |
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Father’s Day is almost here, and I want to share a little about my dad. His name was Samuel Roberts. As a child, I worshiped the ground he walked on. Everyone called me "Sam’s Shadow" because I was always with him, ready to go wherever he went. My mom joked that my dad had “the hot foot” because he disliked staying home, and I guess I inherited that trait because I was always by his side, ready to jump in the car and GO at a moment's notice! I'm number four of five daughters, and though my dad always wanted a son, he loved us deeply.
The year before I started kindergarten, my mom went back to work, and I stayed home with my dad. He worked third shift so it made sense for our family that he take care of me during the day. We did everything together. The only downside for me was his daily nap that he needed so he could get through his night shifts. That meant I had to take a nap too and I still remember lying in my bed, listening to music from the '60s and '70s, waiting for him to wake up.
My parents ran a tight ship. We had weekly rotating chores, from washing dishes to taking out the trash, cleaning bathrooms, and folding and ironing clothes. Without a dishwasher or clothes dryer, we washed dishes by hand and hung clothes outside to dry. Other seasonal chores included hauling wood, maintaining flowerbeds, raking leaves, and harvesting vegetables.
Since my dad didn’t have a son, I was happy to step into that role. I went fishing with him, helped clean cars (my job was cleaning the whitewalls on the tires), and assisted with mowing the lawn. One year, I asked for my own garden plot, and he said yes! I sectioned off my garden with twine and planted rows of radishes, corn, beans, and other vegetables. I visited my garden daily to watch it grow. Many Sunday afternoons after church and dinner, our family would walk through the woods behind our house, enjoying the leaves, ferns, critters, and creek—always an adventure.
My dad wasn’t perfect, but he and my mom (we called them Daddy and Ma) taught us the value of a clean house and yard, knowing where fresh food comes from, and appreciating the outdoors. My childhood was filled with amazing memories: the smell of wood from the chainsaw in the fall, leaves crunching underfoot, the aroma of hot dogs cooked over a fire, fresh caught fish frying and fireflies blinking in the North Carolina countryside at dusk.
During Christmas 2007, before I started Sheer Ambrosia, my dad visited me in Utah. I was making baklava for Christmas gifts when he suggested, “You should sell this BAK-BA-LA!” He always mispronounced it, likely to make me laugh. Less than a year later, Sheer Ambrosia was born. Thanks for the advice, Daddy!
On May 4, 2016, while making baklava late into the night, my sister called to check on me. Instead of her usual check-in to make sure I wasn't burning the place down, she told me our daddy had passed away from kidney and heart complications at 72 years old. It’s been eight years since his passing, and I still miss him deeply. He was a good man, raised by his grandparents, doing the best he knew how. I hope to see him again one day.
If your dad is still alive, give him a big hug and let him know you love him.
In honor of my daddy, I’m offering the Sam Roberts Special this Father’s Day: 20% off a 12-piece box of Traditional Honey Walnut baklava or a Traditional Honey Walnut Cake. Each comes with a ribbon, a gift tag reading, “Happy Father’s Day! You Hold the KEY to my heart,” and a cute key that doubles as a bottle opener. Use the code “SAMSPECIAL” to take advantage of this offer, valid until Father’s Day.
Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads out there. Miss you daddy!
If you'd like to have the baklava sent directly to your gift recipient, don't forget to include your special message in the 'notes' section during checkout if you'd like to say something else besides the message stated above. I'll personally handwrite your note on the back of our special Father's Day gift tags for that extra touch of thoughtfulness! Also, make sure to order several days in advance so we can make your baklava and have it shipped to arrive on time. We use 3 day Priority Mail so make sure to plan accordingly. Use the coupon code: SAMSPECIAL at checkout and we'll take care of the rest.
**Please note that this offer cannot be combined with any other promotions currently running at Sheer Ambrosia.**
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This is what the Father's Day gift box looks like. Remember to tell your dad that the KEY is a real bottle opener!
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Celebrating Growth: Sheer Ambrosia's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and More Community Engagement Coming Soon!
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From left to right, Diane Jackson and Lavarro Greer (Black Chamber members & amazing entrepreneurs themselves) holding the ribbon. Thanks for the balloons Lavarro! Utah State House of Representatives member Sandra Hollins, President & CEO of the Utah Black Chamber, Sidni Lloyd-Shorter, PsyD., myself, Desi Hayda, my A-M-A-Z-I-N-G assistant, and my banker Michael Hanson cutting the ribbon!
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| I have been a proud member of the Utah Black Chamber for several years, and on May 21, we celebrated the grand opening of my new commercial kitchen with a beautiful ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was an amazing event, filled with support from many friends and members. Our president, Sidni Lloyd-Shorter, led the formalities, making it even more special. Thank you Dr. Sidni for all the wonderful things you said about me!
For the occasion, I prepared sample-sized pieces of three different flavors of baklava, scattered throughout the bakery, along with plenty of Kourabiedes (Greek sugar cookies), my special granola recipe, chocolate chip cookies, and almond biscotti, all made from scratch. We had an incredible time! I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended this special event.
For those who couldn’t make it or didn’t know about it, don’t worry! Sheer Ambrosia has also joined forces with the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce. Now that I’ve moved from Draper to Salt Lake City, I’m excited to engage with the community and businesses in this area. I am dedicated to spreading the word about Sheer Ambrosia, my baklava, and all the services my company can offer to the community. With our new commercial kitchen, I am eager to announce all that Sheer Ambrosia can do for the local public as well as corporations, with the support of the Salt Lake City Chamber.
We will be having a second ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Salt Lake Chamber on Tuesday, June 4th, from 3:00-5:00 PM here at the new location. If you are a local client, I would LOVE it if you could join us as we celebrate the growth of my business with baklava and other treats made by me, just for you. |
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It was a beautiful day! So many stopped in to wish me and Sheer Ambrosia well! Thank you to all those that attended! A special thank you to Lavarro for calling me early the morning of, to see what he could do to help. You saved me my dear! I appreciate you so much!
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READ ABOVE INVITATION - 2nd Ribbon Cutting Coming Soon!
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The Timeless Preservation of Baklava: How Honey Ensures Lasting Freshness
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Did you know that ancient Egyptians used honey as an embalming fluid, and Romans preserved fruits and meats by immersing them in honey? Here's another fascinating tidbit: honey is a natural preservative with no expiration date! These facts explain the remarkable shelf life of our baklava. Typically, it stays fresh for two to three weeks or even longer, all thanks to the honey.
To maintain optimal freshness, store any remaining portions in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If you do refrigerate, let the baklava reach room temperature before indulging, as honey congeals when cold, making the baklava hard. Additionally, storing baklava at room temperature helps preserve the delicate crispness of the phyllo dough more effectively than refrigeration.
For extended storage, freezing is an excellent option. Many of our customers have successfully stored baklava in the freezer for six months to a year. Upon thawing, they found no discernible difference in taste or texture. Remember to bring the baklava to room temperature before serving.
It's important to note that baklava with fruit fillings has a shorter shelf life due to their higher water content. Additionally, factors such as geographical location and humidity levels can impact the overall shelf life of your baklava.
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Always Prepared: The Perfect Gift for Any Occasion
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| I have a wonderful customer, friend, and mentor, Jeff Davis, who absolutely loves my baklava. Jeff is a professor at the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business and is one of my biggest fans. He also considers himself quite the baklava connoisseur having lived in Europe for years. For the past few years, he has been purchasing between 10 and 20 four-piece boxes of baklava at a time, which he freezes. While Jeff and his family enjoy the baklava themselves, he also has a generous heart and likes to keep a supply on hand to give as gifts. Whether it's for a neighbor's birthday, an unexpected visit, a dinner party, or just to share a little love, Jeff is always prepared with these beautiful, edible tokens of appreciation. It's the perfect gift: a unique, gourmet treat that doesn’t break the bank.
A few weeks ago, Jeff stopped by to pick up 20 boxes, and I decided to do something special for him. I created a personalized gift tag for his family, adding “Gifted by The Davis Family” to give it an extra touch of customization. He was thrilled with this special detail!
How often have you wished you had a special gift ready at your fingertips? How many times have you needed something unique but didn't have time to run out and get it? How often have you wished you knew in advance that you'd need a gift for a friend or neighbor? Or simply wanted to brighten someone's day with a meaningful gesture?
Let me help you be prepared for those moments. If you order at least one bundle of 10 four-piece boxes, I am happy to personalize a tag just for you. Follow the link below to order your Ten 4pc Box Bundle today, and we’ll reach out to you to discuss your special tag. When they arrive, just pop them in your freezer, and they’ll be ready whenever you need them—no last-minute store runs required. |
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Check out Jeff's Google Review above!
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SHEER AMBROSIA! I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR BUSINESS, FRIENDSHIP, AND GOODWILL! Also, thank you for reading my newsletter...it was a long one this month! I will never take you for granted!
-Peace, Love, and Baklava Forever,
Rita Magalde
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Sheer Ambrosia Newsletter - April 2024
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Special Mother's Day Discount: Enjoy 20% Off Traditional Honey Walnut Baklava!
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With Mother's Day just around the corner, I'm excited to offer a special 20% discount to all interested parties. This discount applies to our Traditional Honey Walnut flavor, available in either cake form or as a 12-piece box. Our baklava cake is PERFECT as the centerpiece of your Mother's Day table, but if your gathering is small or you want to gift a box to your mom...the 12-piece box may be a better choice. The coupon is valid until Mother's Day, giving you a couple of weeks to take advantage of this offer!
If you'd like to have the baklava sent directly to your gift recipient, don't forget to include your special message in the 'notes' section during checkout. I'll personally handwrite your message on our special Mother's Day gift tags for that extra touch of thoughtfulness! Also, make sure to order several days in advance so we can make your baklava and have it shipped to arrive on time. We use 3 day Priority Mail so make sure to plan accordingly. Use the coupon code: HAPPYMOM at checkout and we'll take care of the rest.
**Please note that this offer cannot be combined with any other promotions currently running at Sheer Ambrosia.**
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Unlocking Growth: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program
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Out of the 32 members within my Goldman Sachs cohort, these 5 amazing individuals, alongside myself, comprised my 'Growth Group,' together with our Business Advisor.
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| It's been quite some time since I've had the chance to update you on the latest from Sheer Ambrosia. I've been immersed in the hustle, working diligently to propel my business forward. One of the strategies I've pursued in this journey is furthering my education. I'm thrilled to share that I've recently completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative—an endeavor supported by Goldman Sachs as part of their commitment to community outreach.
This intensive 14-week business education program, developed in collaboration with Babson College, the nation's leading institution for entrepreneurship, has been an invaluable experience. Alongside 32 other small business owners, I graduated from this program armed with essential skills and personalized business advice, providing a solid foundation for Sheer Ambrosia's growth.
The program commenced on January 11, just two days after I transitioned into my new commercial kitchen, and concluded on April 5th. While it demanded considerable effort, the rewards far outweighed the challenges. A key component of the program involved crafting a new growth plan for Sheer Ambrosia. I chose to explore corporate gifting, believing that our baklava is the perfect choice for companies seeking to impress clients, prospects, and employees alike.
I've curated a stunning brochure and corporate gifting catalog, and I'm excited to hit the ground running, engaging with neighboring businesses to showcase the unique appeal of Sheer Ambrosia baklava. I've attached a copy of the catalog for your perusal.
If you're a business owner interested in discussing the possibilities of incorporating Sheer Ambrosia into your company's offerings, or if you're part of a company that recognizes the value of corporate gifting, I'd love to connect and explore potential partnerships.
Finally, if you are a small business owner and would like to know more about this game changing program, please email me and I will help you get the information you need to see if you qualify. |
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My son Leo was at the graduation. Always supporting his momma!
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Part of my Utah family also came out to support me on this special day! Thank you Richard, Helene, Desi, Derek, and as mentioned, by big boy, Leo! These folks are simply the BEST and I don't know what I'd do without them.
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Another significant supporter of mine is Sidni Lloyd-Shorter, PsyD, (in the middle) the President and CEO of the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce. She came out for me and Helena, the owner of Taste of Louisiana, my friend and fellow cohort member. If you're local and haven't tried Taste of Louisiana yet, you are missing out! It's so so delicious...reminds me of home.
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Save the Date: Ribbon Cutting Event Approaching!
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Sheer Ambrosia has been an active member of the Utah Black Chamber for quite some time now. Guided by our esteemed President and CEO, Sidni Lloyd-Shorter, PsyD., I've flourished and thoroughly enjoyed connecting with a diverse array of remarkable individuals.
Entrepreneurship can often feel isolating, but being part of a community of like-minded individuals has not only been beneficial for my business's success but also for my personal well-being. I'm thrilled to continue nurturing this wonderful relationship.
We're excited to celebrate a significant milestone for Sheer Ambrosia: the relocation of our bakery from my home to a commercial kitchen. To celebrate this achievement, we'll be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 21st from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. If you're local and available, we'd love for you to join us! There will be plenty of baklava samples to enjoy, and we'll also be hosting a few raffles for boxes of yummy baklava.
Thank you in advance for your support and for making time to celebrate this joyous occasion with us. Your presence would mean a lot to the Sheer Ambrosia family.
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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
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In her efforts to take Sheer Ambrosia to the next level, Rita applied for and was accepted into the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. This is a rigorous 14-week business education program designed by Babson College, the nation's top-ranked school of entrepreneurship. Alongside other small business owners, she graduated from this intensive program, receiving invaluable one-on-one business advice and acquired essential skills to fuel the growth of her business.
Sheer Ambrosia Bakery's
News & Updates
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Happy New Year My Baklava People
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| We are almost one month into 2024 and I’ve yet to wish you all a Happy New Year. I’ve been so busy preparing Sheer Ambrosia for the best year yet, I haven't had a chance to check in with you. As usual, Sheer Ambrosia had a stellar holiday season. I baked and baked and packaged and baked some more. From Thanksgiving until everyone started their New Year’s Resolution diet, I was crazy busy making the best baklava I know how, for everyone who ordered. I worked 7 days a week, 15 hour days.
I always go into the holiday season with butterflies in my stomach, worried that I won’t be able to handle the onslaught of business, but with Desi’s help, I was able to get everyone taken care of. For those of you who don’t know Desi, she’s my right-hand woman and one of the hardest workers I know. She and her mother Helene have been with me for 4 years, helping me take care of you, my customer-friends. Helene had to have a pacemaker put in on December 4th, so Desi and I decided that we could handle things ourselves. Thank you Desi for all of your hard work and thank you to all who ordered for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s. We at Sheer Ambrosia are so grateful for your continued support. May we all have an amazing 2024! Happy New Year! |
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Introducing Our New Creative Space/Kitchen
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| I have not been on social media or anywhere connecting with my baklava people for a while because once the holiday season ended, it was imperative that I pivot my full attention back to the commercial kitchen I’ve been building out since August. Well, really the project was submitted to the City of Salt Lake in June, we received our permit to start building at the end of July, and we were supposed to be in the new space by October 1, just in time for the big rush.
Well, needless to say, that didn’t happen and while I was so disappointed and frustrated, I had to soldier on, keeping my head held high, making the best of it. I’ve always been transparent with you in my newsletters regarding the good, the bad, and the ugly of my entrepreneurship journey, but instead of discussing all that went wrong...this time, I prefer to only focus on what went right:
1) I now have a new 600 square foot, state of the art kitchen, with a brand new oven that allows me to bake 10 pans of baklava at once, compared to the one pan at-a-time production that I had in my home kitchen. The time I'll save baking now is life-changing!
2) Bringing strangers to work in my home just was not an option before. Now I can hire, build a team and GROW!
3) Which leads me to this positive thought…now I can have a little more work life balance! No more baking at all hours of the night, trying to keep up with production! When I’m home, I can rest and recuperate and when I’m at work I can focus on work!
4) Now I can provide baklava to companies that weren’t comfortable or able to work with Cottage/home kitchens. Having this new commercial kitchen puts Sheer Ambrosia on a whole new playing field.
The sky’s the absolute limit now. I have a beautiful new kitchen to craft my baklava from, a place where I can comfortably work and make my dreams come true with an amazing team of people I plan to build. I’m putting all the build-out negativity behind me now and only thinking of the amazing possibilities before me. Did I learn a few lessons from mistakes I made during the construction process? You betcha and if I can, I'll help others going through the process in the future not to make similar blunders, but I will not and cannot dwell on the past. The past is the past and the future is bright! Desi says we’ll need to put on our sunglasses it’s going to be so bright!
I’ve included a few photos of the new space and if you’re local stay tuned for info on our ribbon cutting party. Thank you all for your support and orders because if not for you, my customer-friends, I wouldn’t have grown enough to need a new space.
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Is it Baklava or Bak-LOVE-A?
Your Valentine’s Day Gift Re-Imagined
Valentine’s Day is upon us and as you know, Sheer Ambrosia makes an excellent gift for your loved ones. Let me say it again…Sheer Ambrosia is not just a Christmas gift everybody…it is perfect for Valentine’s Day too! We’ve brought back our special edition pink and chocolate brown boxes especially crafted for the holiday so place your orders NOW. It comes with a beautiful Valentine’s gift tag where we can hand-write your special message, and a gorgeous birch wood pink rose tied with our brown ribbon. It’s lovely and tasty!
Non-locals, place your orders between now and February 8 and we’ll make sure it arrives in time for you to give it to your Valentine(s). Or have us ship directly to your special people. If you’re local, order anytime and pick up on Valentine’s Day at our new location in Salt Lake City.
What flavor should you get…whatever you think your loved one will like (we have 14 flavors), however my favorite for Valentine’s Day is Chocolate Almond. It’s still a box of chocolates, just re-envisioned and BETTER! |
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The Sky's The Limit!
Now that Sheer Ambrosia has its very own new commercial kitchen, it’s time to expand! My goal is to BLANKET the country with my passion for baklava...to SHOWER the world with my delectable goodies, to INTRODUCE the country to my whimsical realm of nuts, spices, honey and the thinnest dough in the world.
Baklava are little jewels of sweet energy from an ancient time long before modern cookies, pies, and cakes ever existed. It’s an old world treat and I am determined to bring it back to its distinguished prominence. It deserves to be enjoyed year-round during all special occasions. My baklava is sophisticated, charmingly packaged, and screams to the recipient that they are special. It’s art you can eat and elevates any event. It’s the perfect corporate gift and/or companion gift to flowers. It belongs in the airports across the country and that’s where I’m going next. I’m also reaching out to high-end grocery stores and the local wedding community is starting to catch on too. I’m so excited about the future of Sheer Ambrosia! Things are about to get more thrilling than they have ever been!
If you have any suggestions on where or how you think I should focus on reintroducing baklava to the world, let me know. If not, no worries, thank you for just being part of this beautiful journey/adventure as my customer-friend. |
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| We wanted to take a moment to let you know how thankful we are to have customer friends like you. We wish you and your family nothing but the best this Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season. |
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MAKE SHEER AMBROSIA YOUR ONLINE DESTINATION FOR GOURMET BAKLAVA & GIFTS!
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As of today, we are two weeks from Thanksgiving! If you are invited to someone else’s home for the festivities, Sheer Ambrosia makes an excellent hostess gift. If you are hosting the big day yourself, Sheer Ambrosia is always a HUGE hit with guests! You cannot go wrong with any of our flavors but if you want to know what my favorites are for Thanksgiving, here they are:
#1 Cranberry Walnut Spice - The tart and sweet combo is an explosion in your mouth!
#2 Southern Pecan - If you're looking to up your pecan pie vibes...this is it!
#3 Traditional Honey Walnut - Desi just can't stop saying, "It tastes like the holidays!"
***Let me take care of the baking...you just place that order, relax, and ENJOY!***
If you are far away and want to indulge your guests or hosts with this original, sweet indulgence, you MUST get your orders in by Friday, November 17 so that I can have them in the mail by Saturday, November 18. |
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Our Team's All Time Favorite: Cranberry Walnut Spice
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OUR 2024 CALENDAR IS HERE!
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| As you all know, creating a beautiful baklava calendar has been a yearly passion of mine since 2020. It was during the slow months of the pandemic that I needed a creative outlet and I settled on making a gorgeous calendar for my Baklava of the Month customers. I wanted to give them a calendar (a value add) to go with their subscription so that they would know what flavor they were going to receive every month. I hired a photographer and we worked together as best we could. I remember she had two little ones and wanted to make sure she kept them safe so on shoot days, I would drop off the baklava she was photographing on her front porch and she would retrieve it after I left. We talked over the phone and together with my vision and her expertise we made something special.
I was so proud of that calendar the first year, I decided to give everyone a copy regardless of whether they were Baklava of the Month customers or not. It became my gift to you! The following years I kept with the idea of matching each month with the Baklava Club’s flavor of the month, but for 2024 I decided to move in a different direction. The theme for 2024’s Sheer Ambrosia calendar is La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) – Weddings, Parties, and other Special Occasions. The idea was to showcase, not just my passion for baklava, but my new friend Rosemary Fanti’s passion too. She is an artist/painter and I felt I’d share the spotlight with her this time since she also can add a huge value to your weddings, parties or events.
I received my shipment of calendars last week. I will start putting them in with your orders starting NOW! So place your baklava orders and enjoy my joint venture with Rosemary.
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Sneak peek of the back of the calendar
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UPDATE ON OUR NEW COMMERCIAL BAKING SPACE
The build out of my new commercial kitchen is still going. The goal was to be in by October 1st. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and I was so bummed about it, but I’m reminded to keep my head up with a few of my favorite life lessons:
1) As much as I think I am in control, sometimes I’m not and I have to surrender to whatever obstacles are thrown my way, deal with them, and move on.
2) At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that happens, I am not a victim. Moving in later is not the end of the world.
3) Patience is a virtue.
4) I can't do this alone...I need my friends and family! I love you Nette, Mom, Desi and Michael Jones!
I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, enjoy this photo of the outside signage and graphics of our new space! |
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WELCOME
EVERY BLOOMING THING
TO THE SHEER AMBROSIA FAMILY
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of handing out samples at Every Blooming Thing’s Holiday Open House. Every Blooming Thing is one of Salt Lake City’s premier Floral and Gift Shops. They placed an order for Sheer Ambrosia baklava gift boxes and asked me if I’d like to hand out samples. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to meet their family of clients and mingle with their people. It was a fun day and I was able to meet their caterer and hopefully start working with her too. It was a beautiful, productive, and fun day of meeting kind people and the fact that everyone LOVED our baklava was a HUGE BONUS! |
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Last Saturday's Holiday Open House at Every Blooming Thing
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I appreciate you all more than you will ever know!
Love, Peace, and Baklava Forever,
Rita - The Baklava Queen
(Or So I've Been Told)
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Welcome To Sheer Ambrosia's Brand New Website!
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| My big, big update for this month’s newsletter is my fresh, new website. Let me explain how I decided to spend the money and invest more than I ever have in a website before.
So last December 13, I woke up from a nap (I only nap in December) and discovered I had 800 attempts to order my book. I was so scared because I knew so many people didn’t all at once decide to order my book, but I didn’t know exactly what was happening. It was a back-office nightmare! About 200 orders went through and 600 did not, but I had emails coming in regarding all of them. My credit card processor was sending me emails telling me to fix the problem asap or they were going to turn off my online store. My first priority was to handle the orders that did go through by refunding them all. I remember this was all happenings at some crazy hour in the early morning and I was sitting at my computer, crying as my hands were shakily refunding strangers for a book they didn’t order. Now understand December is my busiest month of the year so turning off my website was not an option. I called one of my mentors at the University of Utah, Jeff Davis in tears, barely able to articulate what had happened. He quickly responded with the name of a gentleman who could help. Tony, the owner of Firetoss, a full-service digital marketing agency, immediately jumped in and had one of his employees take care of the issue. Turns out, thieves were using my website to test stolen credit cards that they likely purchased off the dark web to see if they would work. It’s called card testing. They attempt to purchase something small on an unsuspecting website with a bunch of stolen credit cards and once they know which cards work, they move on to much bigger purchases. After the dust settled and the problem was fixed, I continued on with my holiday season without any more issues, but Tony and I planned on getting back in touch as soon as the holiday rush was over to discuss making my website better all the way around. So on January 4th of this year, I had my first meeting with my new website company SEOWerkz.com (they bought out Firetoss) and the rest is history.
We have worked really hard to keep what was awesome about my old site, but gave Sheer Ambrosia a complete facelift, which includes a sleeker, clearer, more user-friendly design. There was a lot of back and forth to get everything just right; many meetings, and lots of baklava was eaten, but I’m thrilled to unveil my new website. Hats off to Kirk, Michelle, Mark, and Rod for all of your work on my behalf. You did an excellent job. Thank you for taking my vision and your expertise and turning it into the stunning, manageable, well protected site I have now. If anyone reading this needs a new website built…these are the people to call.
To celebrate this huge accomplishment for Sheer Ambrosia, I am offering the flavor that started it all, my Traditional Honey Walnut, on sale for 20% off for the next week. It’s the classic, the MVP, my main squeeze at Sheer Ambrosia. So enjoy and thank you for continuing to support my business. Without your orders, I couldn’t continue to grow and perfect all aspects of my business. |
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| Progress On The New Commercial Kitchen |
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| The new commercial kitchen is coming along great. My general contractor, Jaime Mencia is working hard to get everything done right and in a timely manner. He’s crossing his ‘T’s and dotting his ‘I’s and watching my money. The project is very expensive but I have faith that venturing out into a commercial space will bring in more revenue by allowing me to hire more help and bring in more clients that wouldn’t work with a home-based company. Sheer Ambrosia will be much better off because of this move.
We are still looking at an October move-in time. drywall, mudding, and taping are all done. Plumbing and electrical are almost finished. The ceiling and floor treatments happen next and then I will start painting myself by the end of week.
Painting is one job that doesn’t require a special license, so I will be hanging up the apron for a few days to put on my painting clothes. I’ll paint the majority of the space my teal color, but you better believe I’m going to incorporate my signature stripes into a few of the walls. We’re going to have a small will-call area so that’s where I’ll have my fun. I picked up a new chandelier from Amazon for the entrance, and special ceiling tiles from Wayfair for the entrance as well. The ceiling will mimic the silver seal that comes on every Sheer Ambrosia box. Basically, when you walk in, it will feel like you’re walking into one of Sheer Ambrosia’s boxes. I’m so excited! Stay tuned for opening date and ribbon cutting.
Our New Address Will Be:
1749 South State Street, Ste.102
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
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Most Recent Pics of Space
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Wedding Bells Are Ringing At
Sheer Ambrosia
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Three Tier Baklava Wedding Cake
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Small Cake just for the Bride and Groom
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I’ve had a fun time incorporating several weddings into this summer’s activities…and they all got me thinking…1) I love to see people in love. I believe in the family and marriage. 2) I enjoy working with happy people, and 3) happy people make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside). Why not promote baklava for weddings…not just Greek weddings, ALL weddings! In fact, of the five weddings I worked with this summer, only two of them were for Greek families. I want to be part of all-things weddings…the excitement of the big day, making food look beautiful, seeing people dress up, and celebrating what makes the world go round…LOVE! After all, Sheer Ambrosia baklava is so sophisticated and beautiful…it seems like a no-brainer.
This past Wednesday, September 6, I invited an old friend, Alex Bingham (the stylist who helped me design my 2022 calendar photos) and her photographer friend, Jason West over to my house to create magic. And I’m telling you magic it was! Alex is not a woman of many words but she is so crazy talented. I had never met Jason before, but I trusted Alex’s judgement and got to know him pretty fast. He has been a photographer for 40 years…and buddy…the two of them together was something to watch. I talked the WHOLE TIME…they couldn’t shut me up…in fact, I kind of regretted it towards the end. I just talked and talked and asked questions upon question about their lives and how they came to do what they do. I talked about current events, music, I think it was excited talk, nervous talk, just talking to fill in the silence. They got to my house about 9:15am and didn’t leave til around 6:00pm. I made us lunch so we could take a break but keep the dreamlike photos going. It was a fun day and I’m so eager to really start working in the wedding industry. Here are a few pics of the enchanted day I enjoyed with Alex and Jason. If you ever need an amazing photographer with loads of experience and/or a stylist to help showcase your products, please reach out to me and I’ll pass on their contact information.
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Me and Desi right before the market started.
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Ogden Farmers Market: A Huge Success
What a busy summer it’s been. I cannot believe the warm weather is almost over. It seems like I just blinked and it was May 27th, our first Saturday at the market. What a whirlwind it was! I met so many cool new customer friends (that’s what I call you all…my customers who are also my friends). There was Rose and Marc who I have so much in common with, there was Carola, Brysen, Mitch from New York, one guy from Tennessee whose name I cannot recall right now and then there was Kathleen. She is a long-time customer before I ever made it to the Ogden farmers market, but she came almost every Saturday to say hello and pick up her special order she put in the week prior. She’s a super special lady and I’m just grateful I got to finally meet her in person. There were so many people who came and supported Sheer Ambrosia. I am just over the moon appreciative I had a chance to get to know so many new friends and spread the word about Sheer Ambrosia and earn extra money for my new commercial kitchen.
I am also so thankful to Helene and Desi, my helpers whom I’ve introduced you to in the past. They hung in there with me almost every weekend. Of course, they took some time off for river rafting (that’s a big thing here in Utah) and Desi took a trip with her family to Florida, but they were my faithful, loyal helpers through the whole summer. Helene took the train down to Draper every Friday to help me get ready for Saturdays and Desi rolled herself out of bed Saturday mornings without fail by 7:00am to help me until 1:30pm. They are just the best and I would have not been able to have a successful summer without them. I’m thrilled to have introduced Sheer Ambrosia to so many awesome new customer friends in Ogden.
I won’t miss getting up at 3:00am to package and get everything ready to go by 6:00am, but I will miss watching the sun rise above the Wasatch Mountains on my drive north on I-15. |
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Sunrise on my way to the market.
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Welcome To Summer!
July 2023 Newsletter | Volume 3 Issue 7
AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP
Yes...There ARE Still Good/Kind People In This World
More than three years ago, in June of 2020 when Sheer Ambrosia was interviewed for the first time on National Public Radio‘s show Marketplace, that same day, I received a telephone call from a gentleman in California named Steve Crandall. He had heard my story on Marketplace and was so touched, he wanted to place an order. Steve was older and didn’t want to order online from my website, he wanted to place it over the telephone with me. I was swamped that day with orders, but there was something about this man that made me stop, take a breath and have a real meaningful conversation. It was such a refreshing talk that day. We discussed politics, religion, current affairs, the ways of the world…all the stuff polite people aren’t supposed to talk about with strangers. We ended up conversing for a couple of hours and Steve and I became instant but unlikely friends who spoke often. When something crazy happened in the world, I would call him or vice versa.
Steve was also one of my most devoted customers. He would look for opportunities to support my business. Once he had to have his entire plumbing system in his home redone and he bought baklava for all of the workers. He would buy baklava for himself, his neighbors and friends during the Christian holidays and also during some Persian holidays because back in the 1970s he and his wife lived in Iran and he still had Iranian friends he wanted to dote on. He was incredibly generous with those in his circle. He insisted that I keep his credit card on file so that he could order baklava at a whim, for whomever and not have to drag out the card. One time I received a pair of snuggly socks in the mail, and I was perplexed as to why someone would send me a pair of socks until I read the card which was from Steve and he said that my baklava was so good, it knocked his socks off! What a cool guy!! He single-handedly kept my moral up! He was always laughing. He was always in a good mood. He loved telling jokes and when I would banter back with him, he would always laugh at my jokes. He once told me that he adored me!
My father died back in 2016 and I miss him dearly. In 2020, Steve showed up to warm my dad's place in my heart…best substitute dad a girl could ever wish for. Steve would email me articles that he thought were important for me to read. While I was making baklava for hours on end, he would call and we would talk about everything. He told me about his childhood and his Ukrainian ancestry. He told me the story of how both of his parents’ families made their way to the United States from the Ukraine via Brazil and Canada. He has a brother that lives in New York who plays the bass. I can still hear his wife Sue’s voice in the background as we talked. She knew about me and didn’t mind her husband having a friendship with the baklava girl.
I might have the timeline a little off, but I want to say four or five months ago I called to check up on him, a usual weekly/biweekly call and he was in the hospital. He had fallen and broken his hip. He was in the hospital for a long time, and then he ended up going to, not one, but two different convalescent homes to help him recover. He was flat on his back for months, but that didn't stop him from still laughing, and joking every time we talked. What a positive and joyful spirit! He purchased a baklava cake for the nursing staff at the hospital, and he purchased baklava for the staff at the rehabilitation home where he was recovering. He was constantly thinking of how he could support me and how he could show gratitude to the people that were helping him regain his health.
Two weeks ago I called to check on him and he told me that the MRSA bacteria had gotten into his hip and he was going to have to have another surgery to re-open the wound to clean out the infection. I was more worried about that than he was, although I did detect a small sense of sadness in his voice when he was telling me about it…something I had never heard. He had made so many strides, and had even taken a trip back to the East Coast to celebrate his wife's birthday with family and friends after he came home from the hospital. We were both shocked and surprised that he was back in there and going to have to redo all of the rehabilitation. Not last Thursday, but the Thursday before, he had that surgery to deal with the MRSA bacteria infection and unfortunately he died this past Monday, July 3rd.
Steve Crandall was by far the best customer friend I have ever had in my 14.5 years in business. When I received a text message from his daughter a few hours after his death from his phone, my heart broke.
I never met Steve in person and I didn’t know what he looked like until last Monday when Lydia (his daughter) texted me a photo of him. But his voice is etched in my mind and his contagious giggle I will never forget. Steve was a man of the world, a global citizen who had empathy and compassion for people. He was passionate about current events and he loved to make people laugh. He had so many friends. He was 80 years old but he still loved to learn. On New Year’s Eve he told me that he was using his retirement as his time to study up on all the things he ever wanted that he didn’t have time to research during his busy career as an attorney. He had two children, a son and a daughter and a lovely wife named Sue. Steve Crandall, thank you for your friendship. May you rest in peace my dear friend. I am grateful to have gotten the absolute pleasure to know you. I hope to see you again one day.
Peace, Love, and Baklava Forever,
Rita Magalde
P.S. Steve, we talked about you coming to my ribbon cutting when I open my commercial kitchen in a few months. You said that you were going to come. Now I know for sure that you’ll be there.
Sheer Ambrosia Makes Its Debut At The Ogden's Farmers Market
As many of you know, I have wanted to go to Greece for a very long time and I was planning my trip for this summer. However, earlier in the year, I decided that I really wanted to do all I could to take my business to the next level…more about that later. I knew that if I were to do that, I would need to make as much money as humanly possible and I would need to spread the word, near and far that Sheer Ambrosia is here and we’ve got some amazing baklava!
I decided to forgo my plans to travel this summer and every Saturday head one hour north to the Farmers Market in Ogden, Utah. It’s a HUGE market and I was told by a new friend who’s been selling there for the past few years that I could make excellent money there with my baklava.
Of course, I wanted to make my debut in style, professionalism is an absolute must for Sheer Ambrosia, so I hired the best tent maker in Utah, Lee Brasher from Wasatch Prints. Lee’s son Josh and I sat down together and designed a beautiful tent with all the extras and the rest is history!
My team and I have been at it for 7 weeks now and it’s been GREAT for business! We are getting the word out and making wonderful sales. The first weekend, there were over 20,000 people in attendance and we ran out of samples. Since then, we have been preparing and handing out 960 samples every Saturday. This past weekend we SOLD OUT completely for the second time! The summer market goes until the second Saturday in September for a total of 16 weeks. I’m so happy that I decided to do this. Greece has been on my bucket list for a long time, it can wait one more year.
Latest Review: Jolene L. Has A Lot To Say About Sheer Ambrosia
5 STAR REVIEW *****
This past Saturday, I was driving home from the Farmers Market and I received a phone call from a gal wanting to know if I had any baklava for sale. I did, so I told her to meet me at my house in about an hour. We had a wonderful conversation and I gave her the baklava she wanted, expertly wrapped. The next day, Sunday, she sent me a link to this Yelp Review...
I was on the hunt for GOOD baklava. Having tried a few different places in Utah, my search was over when I found Sheer Ambrosia!
According to Yelp's list of "Best Baklava" in SLC, this place is on the list and truly is number ONE!
Don't let the address or hours fool you, just call. Rita is quick to respond 🙂
While her website encourages you to order online and she ships these delicious treats worldwide, it is VERY possible to pick up a fresh batch the same day, just call. You might even find her at the Ogden Farmers Market on Saturdays.
Her traditional honey walnut baklava is out of this world delicious! From the first bite, you know it was baked fresh because the layers of crisp phyllo make a pleasant "crunch" sound when you sink your teeth into it.
With your second bite, you immediately taste REAL honey. With your third bite, you feel the chopped walnuts and that texture is authentic. With your fourth bite, you'll finish with delicate notes of lemon, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla. Perfection!
But I did have to eat four delicious pieces to write this accurate description 😉
From her website, I learned that in her childhood, Rita grew up with fresh apples and berries which her grandma and mom both baked into pies. It's with that same love of fresh fruit that Rita creates incredible fruit and nut combinations into her fresh, made to order baklava.
With peach season in Utah, best believe we will be ordering that from Rita next!
I am honored to support this minority owned business for three main reasons:
1. Rita's baklava is perfect in taste and texture!
2. Rita's customer service is fast, friendly, and enjoyable!
3. Rita's journey, to get where she is today is so profound. AND she's an encouragement to others experiencing tough learning lessons in life.
A true blessing to have met Rita and tasted her delicious baklava!!
--Jolene L. YELP REVIEW
Sheer Ambrosia is Moving Into a Commercial Space!
After the dust settled and Christmas was a wrap, I had to have an honest conversation with myself…if I want to grow my business once and for all, I’m going to have to stop playing small. If I really want to double my revenue (at least) and grow Sheer Ambrosia’s reach, I’m going to have to stop being afraid. I am going to have to take more calculated risks. Up until this point in my life I can’t say I have never been afraid to take risks, but I can say I’ve never allowed that fear to stop me. Post-Covid however, I must say I have changed a little. For the past few years, I’ve been playing the wait and see game, working comfortably from home. Well, being complacent is not going to help me achieve my dreams…it’s time for me to face my future with a positive spirit. My kids are older and living on their own now, I have no reason not to move towards my goal to share my baklava with the world.
I’m tired of going to networking events and seeing the look in people’s eyes after they ask me where my bakery is located and when I say my home, they look at me as if I have a hobby and I’m pretending to be an entrepreneur. And Lord knows I’m equally exhausted with not being able to take FULL advantage of opportunities because some players in the industry will not work with home-based bakeries. The time has come!
We started looking for a commercial location in April. My trusted friend and realtor, Heidi Anderson, ended up finding it close to downtown Salt Lake, and the architectural plans are in with the City of Salt Lake now waiting for approval. The shop will be 95% commercial kitchen with a small space for will-call. We will have plenty of space to make our magic and grow our influence! I am so excited! I will keep you all in the loop with updates and pictures. Thank you for helping me (with your orders and support) make all of this possible. The future is BRIGHT for Sheer Ambrosia!
| Place Your Order NOW Through Saturday, April 8th! |
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| Easter is the ideal day to enjoy great food & BAKLAVA with your friends and family. |
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| Are You A Guest At Someone Else's Easter Table? |
| Sheer Ambrosia makes the BEST Host/Hostess Gift! |
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| Sheer Ambrosia's baklava is proudly made by hand by Rita Magalde, our owner/baker. She's been making baklava for over 34 years! She insists on no less than 45 layers of buttered fillo and only the highest quality nuts, spices and other ingredients. Her wish is that you will enjoy your baklava and taste all the LOVE she injects in every bite. Happy Easter! |
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| This Valentine’s Day give your loved one
the gift of baklava!
Order a 12 piece box of Sheer Ambrosia’s signature handmade, artisan baklava. Choose between our Traditional Honey Walnut or our eclectic Chocolate Almond flavors in our decorative dusty pink and brown striped boxes created especially for Valentine’s Day.
Every gift box is beautifully wrapped with a gorgeous brown ribbon, an elegant gift tag, and a keepsake Baltic birchwood pink rose included.
**Cannot be combined with any other coupons, discounts, offers, or promotions.
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HAPPY NATIONAL BAKLAVA DAY!
How Baklava Saved My Life
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| People are always so interested in how a Black woman from North Carolina started a Greek inspired baklava bakery in Utah and up until now, I tell the story of having worked for a Greek family in high school and college, never really explaining the deeper reasons WHY I started Sheer Ambrosia.
It’s a part of my story that I think is significant to tell and I am finally ready to share it. I want people (customers, friends, and employees alike) to know and understand from where and why this business REALLY blossomed. I want everyone to know how valuable this business is to me and I’m not just talking about financial value. I want to provide a blueprint to others going through a difficult time…highlighting one way to redirect their heartache, anxiety, and anger. I want to be an example, an inspiration to other newly single people on what to do with all those heavy feelings post…insert whatever misfortune happened to them. Instead of allowing the catastrophic event to forever define you negatively, turn your hobbies or passions into a fruitful and positive “project” or in my case, a business.
I went from wanting to end my life after my husband left our marriage, to taking that inconsolable energy and applying it to building a business, my business, Sheer Ambrosia. I think you should know that journey.
Baklava saved my life and I can’t think of a better day to explain how that unfolded, than on National Baklava Day!
Happy National Baklava Day Everyone!
14 years ago last month, I founded Sheer Ambrosia and embarked on a path that changed the course of my life for the better. Thank you all for being part of my journey! Enjoy my story.
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