Buffalo Boss Babe: Annie Krause
Todays Buffalo Boss Babe is Annie Krause of The Rogue Cellar at the JCC Tel Aviv Cafe. Annie is amazing baker and cook and I was intrigued by the line out of her bakery and then when she sold out in the first hour or so of the market I was impressed. Annie chatted with me like we were old friends. We talked to Annie about baking and so much more!
What made you start or brought you to where you are today? Tell us your story and what makes you a Buffalo Boss Babe. What does being a Buffalo Boss Babe mean to you.
I wanted to be a chef when I was in high school but was talked out of it, with all the horrible yet often true tropes of mysoginy, long hard hours, drugs, and little pay. Little did I know that teaching wouldn't really be all that different.
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I retired, after 22 years of working primarily with children with developmental disorders like autism, and worked as the assistant distiller for Black Squirrel Distillery. It was one of the best decisions I made. Jumping from teaching to the food production industry was wonderful. It was hard but worth it.
When we shut down production I had a difficult time finding work. No one wanted to hire a middle-aged, blue-collar, mom with teenagers, even if she had five college degrees. 68 nos or would you be willing to work 55 hour work weeks for minimum wage later, I came to the conclusion that if I was going to work that I'd have to create my own job. A friend recommended I contact WEDI and I was hesitant because I was under the impression that they only assisted and mentored refugees and immigrants, but I was so wrong. They helped me with financing, but more than that, they helped me refine my vision, and enthusiastically supported me when there were difficult moments. It reinforced my belief in the phrase, "Collaboration is the new competition."
That's why I can be proud to call myself a Buffalo Boss Babe. We all succeed, Buffalo succeeds, when we lift each other up and amplify each other's awesomesauce, and I love knowing that I am in the company of some remarkable BBBs.
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Who are your favorite people to follow?
Nancy Silverton, owner of Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza
Raghavan Iyer, author of books like 660 Curries and Smashed, Mashed, Boiled, and Baked
Ana Ros, owner of HiΕ‘a Franko
Vivianne Szulist, owner of Singer Farm Naturals
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What are your favorite things to do in the area (Buffalo and greater WNY)?
Hiking through Panama Rocks Scenic Park
Walking on the Bird Island Pier at the Foot of Ferry and the Times Beach Nature Preserve
Blueberry and cherry picking in Appleton, NY
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Tell me about your favorite collaborations or a dream collaboration?
My collaboration with CBW over this past year has been a blast! My Spentzelsβ’ are spent-grain pretzels, shaped like infinity symbols, and are made with spent grain from Community Beer Works' brown ale, The Whale. My Frau Bao are stuffed steamed buns made with my Spentzelsβ’ dough. My pop tarts are CBW and Rogue Cellar fan favorites. Bar food should be fun!
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If you could have coffee with anyone in the world who would it be?
Nancy Davis, Curator Emeritus with the Smithsonian, Division of Home and Community Life
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What are your hopes, dreams, goals? Big or Small.
I am excited about my move from my little, basement incubator kitchen, into the bright, sunshiney cafe at the Jewish Community Center in Getzville. (Edit since this interview Annie has made this dream come true!) The plan is to blossom and open a second cafe/bakery location in my Riverside neighborhood with other amazing women bakers.
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Tell us about your family (2 Legged , 4 Legged) ?
Husband Bob, step-son Devin, son Samuel, and daughter Leto and our three cats Pete, Stella, and Lady Grumbles
Feel Good Five :)
Color: I'm like Sarah in the book Sarah, Plain and Tall - The color of the ocean: blue, green, and grey.
Food: Fondu
Super Power: X-ray vision
Animal: Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia
Season of the year: Fall
Favorite thing about Buffalo: It's just a giant living room; everyone knows each other in some wild way.
Be sure to follow Annies journey on social @ The Rogue Cellar at the Myers Family Tel Aviv Cafe on facebook! Be sure to visit the cafe and try all this deliciousness for yourself! We cant wait to watch as annie grows her business and hopefully open her second location!
Until next time babes!
