MY STORY
Welcome to Gemstonebakery.com! I'm thrilled your curious sweet tooth led you here!
A little bit about me. My name is Gemma. I was born in Italy and moved to the U.S. at 8 years old. Since I can remember, I have always had a sweet tooth (likely inherited from my maternal grandmother). One of my very first words was "chocolate."
Not only does the love of sweets run in my blood, but baking does too! My mother and grandmother did their fair share of baking and my father's side of the family has owned a bakery, "Panificio Mancini," in southern Italy for many generations. The bakery was first established in 1933 by my great-grandfather. In 1953, my Nonno (grandfather) and his brother re-opened the bakery and it has been operating ever since.
In my adult years, I started baking for fun and began creating unique recipes that were always a hit at the dessert table. In 2022, I began feeling burned out from my day-to-day life and began searching for a creative outlet for myself. With the help and support of my loved ones, the idea of starting a bakery came to mind.
From the start of this journey, my mother encouraged, helped, supported, and promoted me. Together, we shared recipes and business ideas. She offered a lot of valuable advice, having been quite the entrepreneur herself, and she soon became the most integral part of my business (especially in the taste-testing department). My small baking business turned into a family business when we began doing farmers' markets in 2024.
My goal was to continue growing this business with my mother. Unfortunately, in September 2024, my mother passed away. Though I no longer have the opportunity to grow this business with her, I will continue my baking business in her honor because none of this would have been possible without her love and support.
In Loving Honor of Laurie Ann Stimpson