THUNDER BAY — Very few people have the courage to pursue their passions. After all, it can be a huge risk with unpredictable outcomes and may require a complete leap of faith.
That’s exactly what Philippines-born Danielle Quilos did. She took a chance and turned something she loved into a small business.
Quilos is the owner and operator of Bake-A-Wish, a home-based bakery devoted to creating custom cakes, pastries, and Filipino-inspired breads. Each design is created to complement your individual vision, style, and preferences.
At Bake-A-Wish, the Ube pandesal stands out as a fan-favourite. Admired for its soft, cushiony texture and rich Ube flavour, it has quickly become popular with customers. In company with the custom cakes, this unique spin on a classic Filipino bread really shows dedication to quality and flavour.
The goal of Bake-A-Wish is to satisfy people’s wishes and make every celebration feel more special.
“We’re here to grant your baked wishes,” said Quilos, a self-taught baker who has always had a passion for baking but never planned on pursuing it professionally.
Originally, she was studying physiotherapy in the Philippines. At the time, baking was still just a hobby.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and things changed. In the wake of the pandemic, Quilos made the decision to move to Canada. Initially, she planned to give up on baking and concentrate on her studies and finding a job.
However, that all changed within the first six months when one of her friends had a birthday. Since they couldn’t afford to buy a lavish cake, Quilos decided to make one herself. Much to her and everyone’s delight, it turned out to be a delicious success.
Soon after, word of mouth spread pretty quickly and she began receiving orders. What started as a hobby, quickly became a small business.
Her love for baking was not the only reason for starting the business. Quilos had been working 80-100 hours a week and was hoping to reduce those hours. Plus, she realized nobody was selling Ube desserts in Thunder Bay and thought it would be a good opportunity to introduce them to the community.
“I was inspired by the Buzzfeed videos where kids would draw cake designs and the chefs would try to recreate them and make them come to life,” Quilos said.
“We are hoping to do that here in Thunder Bay.”
The response has been amazingly positive. People are loving all of her baked goodies. They say each treat contains the perfect amount of sweetness.
“One person came to all my markets to purchase my Ube cookies, butter, and cookie croissants,” Quilos said. “That person always calls me her Ube dealer.”
What she really enjoys about her work is that it not only increases her patience every time she bakes something but it also helps her connect with people. She loves seeing people’s reactions to her creations. That is a huge part of why she fell in love with baking in the first place.
As Bake-A-Wish continues to grow, Quilos hopes people will not only appreciate all the hard work and passion she puts into her business but also that they get a glimpse of Filipino culture.
Presently, Quilos takes cake/pastry orders and sells at farmers markets. Bake-A-Wish is a side hustle for her but eventually she plans on making it a full-time job. She hopes to one day have a storefront and be able to provide jobs for anyone who needs work.
Excited and humbled about the future prospects of Bake-A-Wish, Quilos looks forward to what lies ahead.
Follow Bake-A-Wish on social media:
- Instagram: @bakeawishdq
- TikTok: @bakeawishdq
- Facebook: Bake-A-Wish
