STAFF FOCUS: Natasha Guerrero

Natasha Guerrero, Pastry Chef

A love for baking hit Natasha Guerrero early in life. "A few days ago, I was thinking about the time I decorated my first cake. It was for my grandma's 80th birthday. I was nine and grabbed flowers from our garden to decorate it," Natasha, Common House Chattanooga's Pastry Chef, remembers. But pastry wasn't the only career path she pursued.

With 8 years in Accounting/Finance for the Yonkers School District, a Bachelor's degree in Urban Design and Architecture from NYU, and a degree from the International Culinary Center following soon after, you could say she is a jack of all trades — all at the age of 26. According to Natasha, "the idea was to learn finance, urban design and architecture, and pastry so that I could design and build my own bakery, manage it, and also bake everything for it."

But, as they say, everything happens for a reason. Natasha's time at the International Culinary Center led to a connection with Ella Livingston, owner of Cocoa Asante — a gourmet truffle company based in Chattanooga, TN. Natasha, a Yonkers-native, decided to make the move and became head chocolatier for Cocoa Asante. She found Common House when looking for extra work to supplement her part-time position. "I saw the job opening at Common House for an Accountant and applied. My friends were the ones that said I should apply to the pastry chef position instead. Everything happened so quickly...I've only been here for seven months and oh my gosh so much has happened."

Between moving and working two jobs, Natasha has found her people at Common House. "My favorite thing about Common House is the community....everyone has become my extended family and has been very welcoming." When asked what she's most excited about making right now, she says, "any of the specials that we are running", noting "they give me the opportunity to bring new flavors and techniques to our menu, while using seasonal ingredients and also having a bit of fun." Next time you're in the house, give Natasha a wave, and be on the lookout for any baked specials we have available — like her homemade bagels and spreads, available Thursday mornings.