Peru is a colorful country. It’s also one of the top three largest countries in South America. Its rich Inca, African, European, and Asian-influenced history, culture, and folklore are some of the reasons millions of people visit every year. The country is known for its mega-biodiversity, outdoor adventures, and gastronomy.
When it comes to authentic Peruvian delicacies, Marcia Navarro knows best. She was born and raised in Peru. Her grandmother was a great cook, and baking had always been an inspiration in her family.
“It was a way to connect with my mother. I remember her making our birthday cakes. Every birthday, she would make me a chocolate cake, my favorite, and everything from scratch, including the fudge. Everybody loved them. I even think people came to my birthday parties only to eat cake!” shares Navarro as she chuckles.
She also recalls her mother saying that the dough needed to be mixed in a specific way and by the same person. “Otherwise, it will get ‘jealous,’ so it is important to make it with the same energy every time.”
This advice is why Navarro always bakes in a good mood and when she is happy, because if she doesn’t, it “will be ruined, have a bad flavor, and will transmit a bad feeling to whoever eats it.”
She confesses to being able to “lick the spoon” after her mother finished baking. Something that inspired Navarro, with the help of her mother, to start her first small business at the age of nine, making chocoteja.
Chocoteja is a chocolate egg filled with dulce de leche and pecans. Navarro spent two autumns knocking on doors during the evening, selling her chocoteja. By the time she was 13, she landed her first job as her aunt’s secretary and baker, where she learned more about baking.
Navarro says, “I was making alfajores (sandwich cookies), tarts, and pies. Once I grew, I decided to focus on other stuff, leaving my path as a baker behind.” In her 20s, she returned to baking for her family.
Sundays became a tradition of making cheesecakes and was named “Sunday of Cheesecakes.” At the time, Navarro thought it was only for fun and didn’t see it as something she wanted to pursue.
After experiencing a bit of uncertainty and uneasiness, she decided to move to Montana, in the United States. However, as destiny would have it, a series of unexpected events placed Colorado in her path instead.
From Summit County, where she met “the love of her life,” to living in Denver for three years, the mountains were calling, and the duo found a home in Coal Creek Canyon, where Navarro found work at the Coal Creek Coffee shop.
Working at the coffee shop presented Navarro with more opportunities for baking. She pitched an idea to her boss, Amber. “I shared the idea of introducing something from my culture to the community, and she was in.”
Navarro began selling her cookies at the coffee shop, and by November 1, 2023, her baking talent gave birth to her business, Bite. “Since then, my husband and I have been doing this together. I am the baker, and he helps with packaging, printing stickers, deliveries, and more,” Navarro shares.
Navarro dedicates at least three days to baking, stating, “I love making pies because I can make pretty designs with the dough. I also like making cheesecakes because it’s one of my favorite desserts; they’re one of my family’s favorites. They loved it when I made lemon and passion fruit cheesecake.”
As Navarro continues to experiment with new flavors, including a glutenfree version of her cookies, she dreams of growing the business. Aside from new variations, Navarro hopes to sell her delicious treats at farmers’ markets, convenience stores, and other local coffee shops.
One piece of advice she offers to anyone who bakes or wants to learn to bake is, “Always ALWAYS do it with love, good mood, and good energy because your hands will be the ones touching the dough and transmitting your energy to it. Be persistent and be ready to fail and grow slowly. Perseverance and consistency are big in whatever dream you want to follow.”
If you’ve never been to Peru, here’s an opportunity to bring a little bit of Peru home with you. You can find her cookies at Coal Creek Coffee on the weekends.
Bite is located in Coal Creek Canyon. You can find her on Instagram @bitebakery_ mnt. You can call them at 970-393-3996 or email them at bitebakery.mnt@gmail.com.
