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Meet Daphne Subar
• Daphne Subar

Meet Daphne Subar

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Daphne Subar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Daphne below.

Daphne, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Growing up, I always loved to bake and watch my mother in the kitchen. Once I had a family of my own, the kitchen became a communal place in our home, not only for my husband and daughters but for our friends and family.

When she was young, one of my daughters printed out a photo of a bakery with the words “Subarz: All bars, one bakery” on it and stuck it up on the refrigerator – a play on our last name, Subar.

I enjoyed practicing law, but that bakery flyer on the fridge stayed right there – always in view, a constant reminder as I passed by it day after day. Baking was something I enjoyed – playing around with recipes, finding ways to make delicious treats that accommodated dietary restrictions and food allergies and making treats that were for specific holidays and seasons. I had been approached by several others asking if I would ever consider selling my baked goods, but I always responded, “maybe one day” as that idea seems overwhelming and daunting.

At some point, I realized that “maybe one day” may never come unless I do something about it and what was I really waiting for? I had always taught my three daughters to follow their passion and as I was watching them work hard to achieve their dreams, I was too frightened to try something different and possibly find a new passion to pursue.

So, one morning, with the help and inspiration of my husband and three daughters, I decided it was my time and I set to making a long-time dream a reality. I looked at that flyer on the fridge, and knew exactly what to name my company.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Subarzsweets is a women-owned bakery based in the Los Angeles area that specializes in unique baked goods called Subarz. These delicious treats combine the crunchy texture of biscotti and mandelbread with the sweet flavor of a cookie. There is nothing else quite like it – this recipe originated from a series of baking experiments over the years, and making desserts that my friends and family could enjoy.

Since launching Subarzsweets in 2016, we have expanded our selection of flavors and varieties and now offer gluten-free, dairy-free, wheat-free and nut-free options. We have introduced and expanded our selection of Passover-friendly Subarz and are always looking for new ways to make this crazy world just a little bit sweeter, bite by bite. Subarz are available in four different package sizes, ranging from a three-pack to a two-dozen Sampler Box. We ship nationwide and have shipped Subarz to all 50 states. We make all your gift giving easy and carefree, and also offer different subscription packages that are perfect for gift giving all year round.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My resilience was tested during COVID when my daughter was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, moved home, and underwent intensive treatment for six months. I am happy to report that she is in remission and thriving, but being faced with that diagnosis during a pandemic was quite challenging.

Clearly, the most important thing we needed to address immediately was her medical issue and obtaining the best care – we live in Los Angeles, and she was treated by a great and attentive team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The next thing we needed to focus on was our immediate family’s health and wellness during this time. One of my other daughters was living at home at the time and working outside the home – as a result, even within our home, we were forced to be masked in the common areas, and any shared meals would be eaten outside at separate tables, at least 6 feet apart. My youngest daughter was away at college in Boston, and sadly we had to limit her visits home during the treatment time to avoid any unnecessary exposure. We were fortunate to have outdoor heaters loaned or gifted to us, and many months of meals provided by the community but those six months were the most difficult I had ever experienced.

We relied on our tenaciousness and stubbornness to keep our daughter safe. We relied on our community to keep us fed and feeling loved and supported. We relied on our family to be by our side no matter what we were faced with, even if it meant a bit of distance. And while experiencing this challenge, I continued to bake and strive to make this world a little bit sweeter through Subarz. I never knew how resilient I could be, my husband could be, or our three daughters could be, but quickly learned that we were able to address this tough situation head on with love and a little bit of laughter to get us through some of the most difficult times.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, I knew I had to be creative to survive. People were stuck at home, separated from family and friends and feeling isolated. People were also bored and wanted something fun to brighten their day. I didn’t want to just sit back and wait for the pandemic to end, I wanted to figure out a way to help and to try to make things just a little bit better for everyone. I also wanted to provide income to those who were suddenly without a job and needed income.

So, I came up with a plan that involved Subarz.

I would hire unemployed members of the Los Angeles community to deliver Subarz locally, rather than shipping those items. Not only that, they would leave the Subarz on a doorstop, ring the bell, and surprise the recipient with a sweet delivery. I was proud of myself for coming up with a way to take a tragic situation and make it just a little bit better by hiring unemployed Angelinos to deliver Subarz, and help spread a little sweetness during a difficult time.

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Image Credits
MaryEllen Baker Photography Bernadette Marciniak Photography Lynne Lainer Photography Kathy Schuh Photography