Leslie Barbarin has seen demand grow for her Ms. Barb’s Bakery and she is now looking to meet that demand by moving into a space in the Codey’s NOLA culinary incubator at 4228 Eve St. Barbarin recently told What Now New Orleans that she initially started the bakery as a form of self-care.
“I was dissatisfied with the job I was in, and I always bake when I need to work things out mentally,” she said. “I kept baking and baking and baking. My family was like, ‘What are we supposed to do with all of this?’”
Her family brought the baked goods to work, and co-workers started asking Barbarin to bake for them. A major turning point happened when Barbarin entered and won a baking competition judged by a panel that included Susan “Sueberry” Henley of Elevated Cake Supply and Brittney “B Sweets” Walker of B Sweet Bistro & Bakery.
“I was like, if these girls think I can bake, then I can really bake,” Barbarin said. While Ms. Barb’s Bakery specializes in custom cakes, other popular items include poundcakes, cookies, carrot cake, and brownies. The bakery is one of several culinary startups operating out of Codey’s NOLA, which has two locations.
