Emily’s Catering & Cakes: A “pop-up” bakery

LIKE FOOD TRUCKS OR FARMERS MARKETS, one of the fastest-growing trends in the restaurant business is “pop-up” dining. The temporary restaurants, whether at a private home or stylish loft space, are creating a new wave of entrepreneurs.

Talented chefs can highlight their creativity without being tied “24/7” to a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Customers appreciate the spontaneity. Examples we’ve written about in our region include Stella at the Cedar House Sport Hotel in Truckee, and Polly’s Paladar in Nevada City.

The “pop-up” concept (or “flash retailing”) is spreading throughout the culinary world and retailing in general, creating pop-up bakeries, ice cream parlors and barbecue joints. The fall and holiday season are ideal for pop-up bakeries—and Emily’s Catering & Cakes in Grass Valley is one of the best in our region.

“We pride ourselves on providing our guests with the highest quality food and desserts using fresh, local ingredients,” says Chef Emily Scott, who owns Emily’s Catering & Cakes with her husband John. They are a shining example of youthful, homegrown talent, who gained experience in big cities, including coastal California and Europe, and returned to the foothills to start a business.

Emily’s pop-up bakeries feature a huge selection of baked goods, all from her catering kitchen: cupcakes (dozens of kinds), cakes, pies, tarts, cookies in imaginative tins, fudge, candied pecans and—one of our favorites—sets of hot cocoa mix and homemade vanilla bean marshmallow in festive mugs.

Emily and John hold pop-up events during the holidays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, the Fourth of July, and Fall Harvest at their full-service catering kitchen at 421 Colfax Avenue. The next ones are Oct. 28-31, Nov. 21-24, Dec. 20-23 and Feb. 10-14.

In between the “pop-up” events, Emily’s baked goods are always available by special order by calling 530-271-CAKE or visiting EmilysCateringandCakes.com.

Emily and John’s catering business is booming (25 events and 2200 guests served in August alone), thanks to their culinary talents. They also offer an imaginative Chocolate of the Month Club; provide healthy lunches to Yuba River Charter School and Nevada City School of the Arts; and offer cheese and charcuterie trays for the new Golden Era lounge in Nevada City, among others.

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