{"id":18403,"date":"2019-10-14T23:18:22","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T06:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/closedloopcooking.flywheelsites.com\/?post_type=feature&p=18403"},"modified":"2022-11-27T12:51:01","modified_gmt":"2022-11-27T20:51:01","slug":"baked-nostalgia-with-masa-madre","status":"publish","type":"reads","link":"https:\/\/closedloopcooking.com\/reads\/baked-nostalgia-with-masa-madre\/","title":{"rendered":"Baked Nostalgia with Masa Madre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tamar Fasja Unikel and Elena V\u00e1zquez Felgueres are two halves of Masa Madre<\/a>, a bakery inspired by Jewish-Mexican tradition. Based in Chicago, the duo whips up delights like vegan cinnamon churro babka<\/em> and za\u2019atar challah<\/em> to order daily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tamar and Elena first met in Mexico City, but it wasn\u2019t until both their paths led them to Chicago that they talked about opening a bakery together. \u201cWe had all these amazing recipes between us and we didn\u2019t even stop to think about whether there was a market for it,\u201d Elena says. Both grew up in food-loving Mexican households, where they learned to cook and bake alongside their mothers and grandmothers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"masa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was a traditional babka recipe Tamar learned in Israel that set Masa Madre in motion. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe started with no money at all, we were just trying to share this amazing recipe,\u201d Elena says. They were immediately met by customers eager to try the nostalgic treats, and soon expanded into more flavors and offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masa Madre often receives inquiries about opening up a brick-and-mortar (it\u2019s currently online-only), but they have no plans to move into a storefront. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The made-to-order model allows them to keep the business as low-waste as possible\u2014a component that was crucial to Tamar and Elena from the start. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ve also kept their packaging plastic-free, and are always looking for ways to make production more sustainable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tamar and Elena were kind enough to share one of their early recipes with us. Masa Madre no longer sells this delicious vegan carrot cake, but now you can make it at home yourself! (Grandmother collaborator not required, but encouraged.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was one of the first recipes we started selling to caf\u00e9s and one of the recipes that gave us the confidence to start our business. \u2014 Elena<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"masa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Masa Madre Vegan Carrot Cake<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n