Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Eford.
Hi Tim, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Birmingham, Alabama and moved to Georgia when I was 2 years old. As a kid we moved around a lot but in 6th grade we moved to the Decatur-Ellenwood Area where I graduated from Cedar Grove High School. In school I was a 3 sport athlete who played Football, Basketball and ran track. Football took me to college where I attended The illustrious Lane College an HBCU in Jackson, TN. I became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. I majored in Criminal Justice where I able to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree. After finishing undergraduate I attended Argosy University where I obtained my Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology. I have 3 wonderful kids and I’m currently a police officer in the metro area.
As you can see, I don’t have any formal training in cooking or baking but I do have some amazing Southern cooks in my family. Although I never really cooked anything until college, now I enjoy it a lot. My family and my passion for cooking is kinda what led me to baking!
Shortly after the pandemic subsided and people started getting together again I decided to cook an old-fashioned Sunday dinner for my mom and mother-in-law. I decided it was the perfect time to try and make a cake. At the time I had never baked anything especially a cake from scratch. When it was done it didn’t look the best but it tasted amazing and my family raved about that cake for about a week afterwards.
Due to the success of the cake, I kinda became obsessed with baking cakes and other delicious treats. My son (who’s 8 now) was diagnosed with a severe diary allergy so it really limited what I could bake in the kitchen. Instead of stopping I decided to focus my passion on vegan treats. After a lot of trails and errors, I decided to start a vegan baking business so I could ensure he or anyone else suffering from dairy allergies could enjoy great desserts without worry.
Since then I have started Boss’d Up Bakery and have been making custom vegan cakes and treats for all types of individuals. My baking took me to Canada where on competed in the televised baking competition, Great Chocolate Showdown, which aired on the CW this past summer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The first thing I learned from baking is that it’s a science and I’m secretly a history and science buff. So mixing difference ingredients and flavors was right up my alley, but doing it vegan was a whole new ball game especially for someone who had never baked before. I consider myself a part-time vegan lol and learning not only what a vegan truly is but also having to mountains of research to find out what products I could and couldn’t use was no small task. Once i felt comfortable with baking vegan, I had to teach myself how to decorate and plate desserts. I’ve spent hours on YouTube and studying some of the best bakers in America to see how I could not only replicate what they already accomplished but elevate with my own unique spin on traditional desserts but the vegan way.
One thing I learned is that starting any business isn’t easy. Besides all of the paperwork to get it started and inspections I have to pass to become a Cottage Food Certified Baker also took a lot research and planning. If you remember I had never baked prior to my first cake I had to invest in a lot of supplies and equipment, some I have still never used. On top of everything else you also have to build clientele and listen to others ideas on how you should run your business or what you should do next. Although it’s been a tough process my favorite part is coming up with new and innovative ideas/concepts that often blow others away. I enjoy finding a recipe and seeing what it is that I can do to BOSS UP this recipe and make it stand out.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a man of many hats so I honestly believe I can do or become anything I dream of. I’m a father, a police officer who takes pride in serving my community and I also bake. Being an officer is my way of giving back to the community and being able to change the perception of most police officers and also ensure that no one is afraid when being approached by police. By baking, I’m able to make memories with my kids who enjoy helping or licking extra icing off of a spoon. They have no problem trying one of my new recipes and telling me their honest opinion. When I complete an order for one my customers the most rewarding thing is seeing the smile on their face and them loving something I created. My goal is make sure my desserts are delicious and able to be enjoyed by all.
How do you think about luck?
Even though I use the word I’m not sure I believe in luck. I take everything positive that happens to me as a blessing and anything negative as a lesson… Bars! God and family are the reason I was able to discover this talent and because of my belief in him I was blessed enough to be casted for Great Chocolate Showdown Season 4. At the time of filming I hadn’t even been baking for a year. I mean what are the chances that a new baker just posting pictures on Instagram would garner the attention of an international talent scout for a baking competition. Not only being contacted but also being selected for the show! If that ain’t God I don’t know what is! Since airing on the show I have received messages from people all over the world who have connected with my story and are interested in my desserts, again that’s not luck that‘s God!
I don’t know what the future holds for my business but I do know that this is just the beginning for me. Maybe I did get “lucky” but having a strong foundation, supportive friends and family and a great work ethic I think anyone can be “lucky”!
Pricing:
- Custom Vegan Cakes start at $125
- Custom Vegan Wedding Cakes start at $250
- Cupcakes $45
- Dessert Tables start at $500
- Also follow me on IG (@bossdupbakery) because I do a lot of popups during the spring and summer months.
Contact Info:
- Website: Bossdupbakery.com
- Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/bossdupbakery - Facebook: https://m.facebook.
com/bossdupbakery
Image Credits
Great Chocolate ShowDown Season 4
