Chat 'n' Chew: Lina Mariscal from French Oven Bakery

From bank to bakery, no task she won't roll sleeves up for

[ With Rosey Robards ]

Published: February 19th, 2008 07:40 PM
Last Modified: December 16th, 2007 08:37 AM

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When the French Oven Bakery receives a large order for cakes or breads, owner Lina Mariscal does not hesitate to pitch in. Recently, when she saw that the bakery cake decorator -- her 16-year-old daughter, Celeste Ruiz -- was falling behind, she jumped right in to help.

Ruiz said: "She looked at me and she put her hands on her head and said, 'This is hard.' But she didn't stop."

Ruiz says her mom isn't the type to give up.

"It was kind of funny to see my mom not understand something that I can do," she laughed.

Mariscal told her daughter to stop laughing and show her how it was done.

"She works really hard. Out of everybody I know, I think she works the hardest," Ruiz said.

The French Oven provides bread for local restaurants ranging from Hotel Captain Cook, Wings N Things, Humpy's, Snow City, The Perfect Cup, Tommy's Burger Stop, Arctic Roadrunner and Taco King. It also caters to the Latino community with Mexican and Guatemalan breads.

Mariscal plans to move the bakery this summer and hopes to open a cafe out front with a menu of soups, sandwiches and salads. Right now, French Oven offers breads, pastries, croissants and cheesecakes to go at its small Spenard Road location.

With about 30 regular clients and a dozen employees, Mariscal has to be on top of her game. She admits she's learned a lot since becoming owner two years ago after a career in banking and accounting.

"I had to learn," she said. "It was either learn or totally depend on employees. If somebody doesn't show up to work, the work still needs to be done. So you need to roll your sleeves up."

Ruiz admits she sometimes finds it difficult working with her mother. At times her mom is picky, but Ruiz is proud when she says her mother is a powerful, well-respected woman with a lot of pride.

"She makes me try my best, and I know she tries her best," Ruiz said. "I know that everything we do in this bakery comes out good because of her."

• Anchorage freelance journalist Rosey Robards can be reached at rrobards@adnmail.com.

Lina Mariscal

Title: Owner/baker's assistant of French Oven Bakery

Location: 2917 Spenard Road

Age: 38

Credentials: She learned everything she knows about bread and the French Oven Bakery from working there.

Signature dish: Mexican and Guatemalan breads

Favorite meal from another restaurant: She looks for the best bread in town, anywhere from Tommy's Burger Stop to Simon and Seafort's. "It allows us to see what the bread really tastes like," Mariscal said.

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