Congratulations to our Grand-Prize winners: Teacher Sara Shehadeh and student Noelle Sarntinoranont from Fairfax, Virginia!
Photo courtesy of family; Shutterstock.com (background)
By Noelle Sarntinoranont
During the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the world were in lockdown. However, first responders worked overtime to care for people’s health and safety, often risking their own. While she was stuck at home, Myo Quinn really wanted to help them. But how? She could bake!
Courtesy of Myo Quinn
Myo Quinn
As a resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, Myo lives near the University of Virginia and its large hospital with 11 units. Working alone, Myo baked hundreds of desserts—cakes, donuts, cinnamon rolls, and peanut butter cookies—and personally dropped them off at each unit. Throughout 2020, Myo called hospitals, police stations, and doctor’s offices to ask if she could bring treats. After all, sometimes a single well-made cookie can make someone’s day!
In August 2021, Myo participated in Bakers Box, a project hosted by the marketing agency With Warm Welcome. As stated on their website, Bakers Box was a “tour amplifying Asian home and professional bakers.” Founder Arnold Byun reached out to 18 Asian bakers in 18 cities across North America and asked each to create a baked good that represented their cultural identity. Each city released its own box of unique pastries, and a portion of the earnings were donated to local Asian-oriented nonprofits.
If you had to create a baked good to represent your cultural identity, what ingredients would you use?
Courtesy of Myo Quinn
The sesame alfajor cookies Myo Quinn baked
For hers, Myo created a rich and nutty sesame alfajor, a sandwich cookie she ate growing up in Paraguay. The cookie is usually filled with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut flakes. Myo’s version had sesame oil in the filling and was rolled in black and white sesame seeds to combine her Korean and Paraguayan cultures. Delicious!
Bakers Box celebrated the hard work, dedication, and love of each baker and finally gave them the recognition they deserved.
“I felt very proud to be part of an event that shined the light on Asian American pastry chefs—all so, so, so talented and often overlooked!” Myo said with pride.
Today, Myo is an editor for a website called Simply Recipes. She continues to inspire people through her baking, in both the Asian and local communities. If you want to use your skills to make a difference, here is Myo’s advice: “Think of one thing you really enjoy, and then think of as many possible ways to use that skill for positive change.” What will you do?
Shutterstock.com (background)
Runners-Up: Teacher Robin Chang and student William P. from Maryland Heights, Missouri; Teacher Paul Chilson and student Audrey F. from Estero, Florida
