What does it really take to build a food business from the ground up — and keep it alive for over 16 years?

In this episode of The Perfect Bite, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Mindy Crosato, founder of Decadent Creations, Collective Kitchen, and Collective Market in Hillsboro, Oregon. Mindy shares her raw, honest entrepreneurial journey — from a personal rock-bottom moment at age 20 to becoming a “Chopped” champion, bakery owner, and the largest private employer in downtown Hillsboro.

Mindy opens up about:

• Why getting fired, failing out of school, and a breakup pushed her to trust herself
• Starting a bakery business at farmers markets with just $500
• How winning Chopped accelerated her growth overnight
• The realities of scaling a handmade food business
• Why she built a commissary kitchen to help other food entrepreneurs succeed
• How community, mentorship, and persistence matter more than perfection

This conversation is a masterclass in food entrepreneurship, creative risk-taking, and building businesses that serve both people and place.

If you’re a baker, chef, maker, or aspiring founder — this episode will leave you inspired to start before you feel ready.

You can learn more about Decadent Creations at www.decadentcreations.com and visit the bakery and the Collective Market in Hillsboro, Oregon. 

You can follow Decadent Creations @decadentcreationspdx, Collective Market @collectivemarketpdx, and Mindy @mindcrosato.

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