< Back to Oral History project: Patrick County, Virginia Public Baking
< Back to Oral History project: Southern Baking
ORAL HISTORY
Livia Alves
Livia Alves navigates Brazilian, Indian, and Southern flavors as she runs a bakery from her home in Mebane, NC. Alves is from Pindamonhangaba, a town in rural Brazil. As a young woman in São Paulo, she worked with her family preparing boxed lunches. She came to the United States with her husband and worked in the kitchen of a Hare Krishna (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple. As a Hare Krishna devotee, she is influenced by Indian spices and dishes, and the central tenet of vegetarianism. Her baked foods include samosas, held together with her signature braided edges, and vegan desserts. Through social media, she meets clients and bakes for events like birthday parties and dance recitals, always seeking feedback on what the region’s people enjoy, and trying out new ways to make classics vegan. She is a focused and contemplative baker, in her words: “I like to be very peaceful and just focused on that moment, not thinking about, no, I have to do this fast…For me I feel more centered. And I like to pay attention and always take notes.”
