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Monica Von Thun Calderón is the owner of Grandaisy Bakery, located in the same Sullivan Street address where for 12 years she operated the original Sullivan Street Bakery, Zagat’s #1-rated bakery in New York City. In June 2006, Monica took sole ownership of the location and renamed it in honor of her grandmother Daisy, who first inspired in her a passion for food and community. While her family’s roots are South American and Alsatian, Monica was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. A graduate of Tufts University in International Relations, she had brief teaching positions in both New Mexico and New York City before moving to Tuscany to work as a research assistant for UNICEF. In Italy, she fully embraced the culinary tradition where regardless of class or background, food is an important and vital part of society that brings people together at the local café, restaurant, or bakery. She would carry this sentiment back New York City to pursue a PHD in anthropology from Columbia University. It was during this period, after completing her field work in the Bolivian Yungas on a Fulbright Scholarship, that Monica quite unexpectedly was asked first to help run and later to become a partner in Sullivan Street Bakery. Eventually the business would add a second retail location and a distribution company. When, in early 2006, the opportunity for Monica to take sole ownership of the 73 Sullivan Street location presented itself, she jumped at the chance, while still keeping in place the same great team that made Sullivan Street a success, head baker Cristobal Guarchaj, and head pastry chef, Peggy Jacobs. As sole owner of the bakery Monica is thrilled to have the opportunity to honor and implement the ideals instilled in her by her grandmother and enhanced by her tenure in Italy; a belief that food can bring people together; that great bread is a luxury but one that everyone should be able to afford; that life is always better with a loaf of fresh bread in your hands. |
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