People at Work

Arlene Fores, 54, places a tray of croissants in the oven at Parfait Pastry Shop in Saint Augustine Fla. Sunday, Sep. 25, 2022. "It's a good thing when you like what you do, you know, it's tiring and there are days that you may get frustrated, because there's so much going on, but for the most part, you know, it's rewarding," said Fores, baker and owner of the bakery on 142 King St.

Fores watches as her husband and baker, Paulo Santos, 58, prepares an opera cake, a signature item at Parfait Pastry Shop. Both Fores and Santos own the bakery and storefront together as well as Sweet Weddings next door. "We have been doing wedding cakes and special event cakes for the last 20 years," said Fores about Sweet Weddings, their first location on King Street.

Fores carries a tray with pastries to put in the oven. "I learned by trial and error," said Fores, who has a degree in architectural design and did not train formally as a baker. She stated that her degree in architecture translates into her work as a baker, specially when she builds and decorates wedding cakes.

Santos removes a neapolitan mousse parfait from its mold. "We bake from 5 until 8 a.m., which is opening, and then throughout the day, my husband is next door and he's making desserts too and bringing them out, so they come out throughout the day, all day long," said Fores about her husband and baker.

Fores adds almonds while making almond croissants after brushing the pastries with egg wash. Fores is Cuban and grew up in Miami before moving to Saint Augustine with her husband in 2001. "One time we came to visit and we just fell in love and we said, that's it, we're moving, and we packed our bags and moved," a short time before opening Sweet Weddings in Sept. 2001.

Fores places a second tray of croissants after proofing and brushing with egg wash. "I love working with the public, and this was just an opportunity. Somebody actually came and offered it to me...So it wasn't planned...It fell on my lap and I said, yeah, let's do it," said Fores about her reasons for opening Parfait Pastry Shop, her second location after Sweet Weddings.

Santos slices strawberries to decorate a neapolitan mousse parfait. "We make at least a 100 different things," said Fores about the bakery's rotating menu that includes sandwiches, cakes, parfaits, eclairs, cannolis, macarons and even soups.

Fores holds part of a wedding cake. "My brides, when they come back and they're like, oh my God, my cake was so beautiful and so good, and it was so perfect, then it makes you feel good that you made that person happy...that's what I like about baking," said Fores on why she loves her work.

Santos dips eclairs on chocolate. "Our day ends like at 8-8:30 p.m. of work, but in between it's a lot of stuff that happens," said Fores, while narrating a regular day of work for the pair. A regular day includes prepping and proofing the baked goods, fixing the storefront before opening, taking care of the public and appointments with brides and if it's a day with a wedding scheduled, delivering cakes.

Fores greets a customer at the Parfait Pastry Shop storefront. "I wear a lot of hats," said Fores who also does administrative work in between baking, talking to brides, and tending to customers. "It's hard work, it's not just pretty work. It's so wonderful but it's hard work," Fores said.