Sweet Baker's main pastry chef was involved in a car accident and was hospitalized. Her friend and business partner shares how important she is to her bakery.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio pastry chef was seriously injured in a car accident and is recovering from the incident Monday, and she's the “mainstay” of her business, Sweet Baker.
Now that she is temporarily out, her business partner and friend Angel Encarnacion is fighting to keep her dreams and livelihood alive.
“We’ve been through a lot in this business,” he said. “This is a dream. After all, this is what we live for.”
There are three Sweet Baker locations in San Antonio, including one at 701 South Presa in Southtown.
Stephanie Padilla bakes all the treats and sweets. She is essentially the main pastry chef. On Monday, she said she was involved in an accident off Interstate 35. Padilla said she tried to hit the brakes after her car suddenly stopped on the highway. However, she ended up crashing into the back of the van.
Encarnacion rushed to the scene.
“This is not just a business issue,” he said. “She's my friend and everything. When I saw her in a really bad situation and covered in blood.”
Her car is said to be a total loss. She broke her nose and is expected to be out for six to eight weeks.
“We have a really good friendship,” he said, “and to see someone suffer like that, it's really awful.”
For now, Encarnacion is doing it all: He still makes unique Puerto Rican pastries and fulfills orders from other coffee shops.
“Right now we're just asking for a little bit of help,” he said.
The small business owner said the restaurant was a dream come true for the pair, as they both graduated from the Culinary Institute of America.
“We can't afford to close,” he said. “This is what we live for.”
Meanwhile, another business, J's Sweet Cupcakery, has decided to help bake cake orders that were received this weekend.
If you would like to help, click here for information about the business and click here to donate to the GoFundMe created for Padilla.
