After years of baking for people in her office, Kathy Schriner opened up her own bakery in 1991 in Westlake.
After over 30 years in business, Kathy’s Kolacke and Pastry Shop, now located at 19032 Old Detroit Road in Rocky River, is gaining national recognition.
According to Schriner, she entered a nationwide “greatest baker” contest in November.
The contest, hosted by pastry chef Buddy Valastro, more well known as the “Cake Boss,” conducts fan votes on bakeries across the country before crowning the one greatest baker.
Schriner, who now is on the verge of making the contest’s final five, said she is blown away by the support she has received.
“I’ve gotten a really good response on Facebook,” she said. “There’s really been a big response from all the communities around here.
“They just really want to see me get through.”
Schriner explained that she joined the contest on a whim and never expected to get past the first round.
Now, in the fifth round of online voting, she said she hopes to clear the competition’s final two obstacles.
“I saw it on my Instagram feed,” Schriner said. “I saw it from Bake From Scratch magazine.
“Everything we do in the bakery is from scratch, so I entered the contest. You have to be approved.”
The winner of the contest will receive a $10,000 cash prize, a personal meeting with Valastro and a feature on their signature pastry in Bake From Scratch magazine.
Should she take home the cash prize, Schriner said she wants to donate a part of her winnings to a local animal shelter.
The rest of the prize will be put toward a vacation, she said, as she hopes to visit family in San Diego, Calif.
“If anybody knows me or the bakery, they know that we’re dog-friendly,” Schriner said. “We even make our own dog treats up there, (and) people bring their dogs in.
“My dog is a rescue, and I just have so much passion for this. So, I think I’m going to donate some of it to City Dogs (in Cleveland).”
Schriner thanked the voters for getting her this far and hopes to keep going.
“It’s all up to the voters on Facebook, and you just have to get it out there,” she said. “A lot of people know me, and they know my bakery, so I think that helps a lot, too.”
Greatest Baker contest voters can support Schriner at greatestbaker.com.
Voting for the current round ends Jan. 4, she said.
Kathy’s Kolacke and Pastry Shop is on a winter break, Schriner said, but the business officially will reopen to the public Jan. 9.
