About Us

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This is the story about us......Mara Nicholas is from the beautiful Hudson Valley in New York,where as George Nicholas is from Jackson Mississippi. 

They both met while attending Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Mara was obtaining her degree in Baking and Pastry Arts, while George was getting his in Culinary Arts. 

After graduating in '92, they moved to Asheville NC. 

Mara had been recruited The Grove Park Inn and George worked at the fine dining restaurant, 

The Top of The Plaza at The Radisson Hotel downtown Asheville. 

During that time they got married at The Grove Park Inn (yes- Mara made her own wedding cake). 

After about 3 years they moved to Washington DC. There Mara worked as the Assistant Pastry Chef at Grande Hyatt and 

George was the Banquet Chef at The Mariott Metro Center. 

Then they both worked at Lansdowne Conference Resort in Leesburg, Va. 

Mara as the Assistant Pastry Chef and George As the Assistant Garde Manger Chef. 

In 2001 they decided to come back "home" to Asheville where Mara became the Pastry Chef at The Bistro on Biltmore Estate and 

George became the Executive Sous Chef at the Stable Cafe on Biltmore Estate. After a couple of years Mara moved on to 

being the Pastry Chef at Kenmure Country Club and George went to Connestee Falls in Brevard as the Executive Chef. 

In 2004 they had a baby boy, Jacob, and Mara decided to go work for Aramark at the Asheville School. 

A few years later she started The Baker's Box in her spare time. George went on to be the Food and beverage director at Etowah Valley Country Club 

and The Esmeralda Inn. After many years of doing wedding cakes and farmers markets, they decided to use their experience and 

open the little bakery/ sandwich shop on Kanuga. 4 years later, they were able to upgrade to a larger space. So here we are and the story goes on............