By Michelle Moskowitz
Sentinel Correspondent
‘Live. Love. Bake’ is the mantra behind Greenwich resident Heather K. Terry – whose myriad roles include ‘pastry chef,’ Chocolatier, yogi, and mom to name just a few.
Like many other women who let intuition be their guide, Terry’s professional journey veered down an unexpected path.
While Terry attended college at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, she had one lofty goal in mind – to become an actress.
With much perseverance, her acting dream came true , consisting of commercials, feature roles including the soap opera “All My Children,” and a short run on Broadway’s, “Irena’s Vow.”
However, Terry admits that it was often a trying path that left her questioning if it was the right one.
Always a health aficionado and advocate for eating real, simply prepared, clean foods, Terry began to heed to another one of her callings – that of the culinary arts.
Like many actors in New York City, Terry supported herself as a waitress in a trendy restaurant called ‘Stone Rose,’ (which has since closed).
This experience not only fueled her passion for the food industry – but taught her a lot about the business side as well, not to mention the fulfillment it provided.
To satisfy her love of healthy cooking, Terry would often host culinary workshops (12 to14 people) on the rooftop of her apartment building with themes like ‘how to prepare simple, healthy meals in a flash.’
She was on a mission to de-bunk the myth that healthy food couldn’t possibly taste great.
As a growing fan base of foodie enthusiasts began to flourish (and ask for her coveted recipes), Terry decided to take her love for nutrition and wellness a step further by enrolling in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN).
While claiming to have always had the proverbial ‘sweet tooth,’ it was during her studies at the IIN that Terry became interested in the savory side of the natural food industry.
When that sweet spark was ignited, Terry said ‘she learned everything she possibly could about the virtues of dark chocolate’ which is said to be one of the best sources of antioxidants and loaded with nutrients.
Terry also went on to study Chocolate Making and Pastry Arts at The International Culinary Center as well as the French Culinary Institute of Manhattan.
That passion for healthy, yet savory delights resulted in the creation of NibMor Chocolate — a multi-million-dollar company, producing a wide assortment of organic, non-GMO, vegan and gluten-free chocolate treats (www.nibmor.com) including chocolate bars, nibs and drinking chocolates.
Co-founded with Jennifer Love, whom she met at the INN, NibMor Chocolate treats are currently sold in more than 4,000 locations across the United States such as at Whole Foods Market, CVS and Stop & Shop.
“We must have gone through seven or eight iterations on our chocolate bars,” said Terry.
After building such a successful brand over the years, as well as securing her solid footing as a food entrepreneur and CEO, Terry decided she was ready to pursue another one of her culinary endeavors — pastry making.
Thus, began the creation of her newest venture, Ggachi Bakery.
At Ggachi Bakery, Terry and her budding team of eight, whip up artisanal, high-end desserts, using only the finest organic and non-GMO ingredients.
Confections include delicately handmade truffles and freshly baked treats, such as mini-blueberry pies, gluten free and vegan chocolate chip cookies, as well as eye-catching petit fours.
They also create beautifully designed custom-tiered wedding cakes, confetti cakes, not to mention a tasty, ciabatta bread that, according to Terry, ‘undergoes a very long fermenting process’ made with only four ingredients: water, flower, salt and yeast.
“I won’t do anything that isn’t the best of the best, no matter what,” said Terry.
In Terry’s staunch commitment to eating clean and using only high-quality ingredients that are ethically sourced, Ggachi Bakery is perfectly adept at catering to a variety of dietary needs such as vegan, gluten-free, and lactose intolerant, without the compromise of great taste.
“We are all about the quality of what goes into our products, but something healthier can also be so delicious,” adds Terry with a smile.
Currently, Ggachi Bakery treats are sold through Mike’s Organic Delivery, Back 40 Mercantile, and at Ggachibakery.com and offers dessert catering for events of any size from intimate gathering to large corporate events.
This reporter, who tasted one of their signature sweets — the mini blueberry pies (which is truly a pie and not a tart) experienced the perfect burst of fruity flavor surrounded by a perfectly airy crust.
Her only complaint was that they were miniature in size, but the sweetness and texture of the pie was ever so satisfying.
Due to its healthy list of ingredients, the sweet treat was easy to digest, unlike other highly processed baked goods.
Some of Ggachi Bakery’s popular, and elegantly wrapped, gift items include the Ggachi Box — a ‘tootsie roll and salted chocolate caramel rolled into one,’ the Signature Chocolate Raspberry Granola, and the Monthly Special Truffle Box with flavors that include dark chocolate, orange, mint and raspberry — a perfect gift for a loved one.
All Ggachi Bakery delights are baked by hand at commercial kitchens in Stamford and Mamaroneck, N.Y.
When asked if Terry misses her acting career, she chuckled and said she still utilizes those skillsets by producing fun, baking tutorials for her online followers who are equally as passionate about baking healthful, delicious desserts that everyone can enjoy.
In November of 2015, Terry published her first book, “From Broadway to Wall Street: Cautionary Tales of an Unlikely Entrepreneur,” chronicling her journey from the stage to CEO of NibMor Chocolate.
When asked what advice Terry would offer to other entrepreneurial women and/or moms who dream about starting their own business, she replied – “Keep going. Business is tough, but if you believe in your product or idea, be relentless about it.”
Terry goes on to add how many women, oftentimes mothers, approach her with a good idea, but are apprehensive about starting a business due to their lack of experience.
“I say, WOMAN! You raised human beings! You run a household, manage bills, schedules, crisis, you can run a little business,” said Terry. “I think sometimes women really underestimate their power of what society has put on them. They can’t see they have already being doing the work of a CEO.”
With the creation of two lucrative businesses under her apron, an author and actress, this reporter asked if Terry is perhaps the next Martha Stewart in-the-making?
After all she has the knowledge, talent, and vibrant smile that not only inspires the baker in us all, but encourages people to bake with ingredients that are good for the body and the mind.
“Absolutely, wouldn’t that would be great,” said Terry through an ear-to-ear grin.
Terry also discussed the importance and enjoyment of cooking healthfully with kids and that interactive workshops for all ages could be on the horizon.
“It is so important to talk with kids about nutrition today.”
Stay tuned as a special recipe for Sentinel readers may be in the works.
Visit Ggachibakery.com to sign up for their online magazine filled with Terry’s healthified recipes, baking inspiration and discounts.
Follow the bakery brand on Facebook, twitter and at Instagram!@heatherkterry
