Resident in the south of São Paulo, Gabriel Felipe prepares different fillings for sweets and dreams of studying gastronomy
“Cakes that convey dreams in flavor.” With this slogan, the young pastry chef Gabriel Felipe Silva, 14, residing in Jabaquara, in the south of São Paulo, is successful on social networks by creating decorated cakes that arouse the desire of those who see them.
The first contact with the bakery came through her older sister, Ana Silva, 22, who used to bake cakes as a hobby. “Since I was six, I’ve enjoyed following the process. But it wasn’t until I was 11 that I started looking for knowledge, watching videos and making recipes, ”recalls Gabriel.
In 2020, during the pandemic, after taking courses and perfecting the techniques, the young man made his first sale of sweets to a neighbor and decided to turn his talent in the kitchen into a business. “I started practicing at home, taking pictures and posting them on social media. That’s when people wanted to ask, ”he says.
The decorated cakes are 15 cm high, with four layers of dough and three of filling. There are many flavors, such as the creamy brigadeiro, the Sicilian lemon brigadeiro, the four milk cream and the semisweet ganache, and prices start at R $ 120. “The most popular order is the creamy brigadeiro,” says Gabriel.
The whole process of making a cake, from preparation to decoration, takes six to eight hours. Everything is made according to the wishes of the customer, but what the pastry chef finds most difficult is managing time.
“There are so many requests and I have to double my attention to take care of everything, including my studies,” says the boy, who counts on the help of his sister Ana when she has a lot of work.
In routine, the teenager, who aspires to study gastronomy, advertising and advertising, wakes up at 6 am and goes to the EMEF (Municipal Primary Education School) Marina Vieira de Carvalho Mesquita, where he attends the ninth grade. Only returning home does she devote herself to sweets.
“I am aware that studies must come first. I do what I have to do with the activities and focus on the cakes, ”says the baker.
Among his schoolmates, Gabriel is the only one who owns a business. “My friends call me boleiro or blogger. Our coexistence is quite normal, but in my conversations I always like to talk about youth entrepreneurship, talk about social networks and marketing ”, underlines the micro-entrepreneur.
POSITIONING ON SOCIAL NETWORKS
In the land of social media, gaining followers is considered the key to attracting more customers. With 25,000 followers, the young pastry chef reports that he has the support of his brother, Matheus Rosa da Silva, 19, with a degree in marketing.
“My instagram was personal, so we turned it into a business. Every visual identity has been thought out. One way I was able to grow was to advertise my work in the neighborhood and in the pastry groups, ”says Gabriel.
In publications he teaches the techniques he uses in desserts and shows a little of his daily life. When the question boxes open, a feature of the platform, the topic that most pumps up questions is about “buttercream,” a recipe for buttercream, used in toppings and fillings for cakes.
With 374,000 views, the most viewed video on the page is about the trend: “when I say I’m 14 and I’m a baker, what do people think …”. The video shows the cakes that went wrong and, soon after, the young man’s works beautifully decorated and finished.
For the future, the young man hopes to build a patisserie (bakery specializing in cakes and sweets) and become a reference on the internet in the field of gastronomy. “I want to teach online courses and teach everything I know,” concludes Gabriel.
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
