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Eater
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
A Chicago Pastry Chef Opens Up on Limb Difference and New Motherhood
Before Kerrie Breuer opened Fat Peach Bakery in Bridgeport, she was an award-winning baker and cake decorator who blew the competition away in 2022 on Amazon Studios' Dr. Seuss Baking Challenge. Two years later, Breuer and her husband, David Castillo, brought what Saturday Night Live calls the Big Dumb Line, a phenomenon that tends to happen most often on the North Side, to Bridgeport. At Fat Peach, lines of eager pastry lovers convene on a stretch of Archer Avenue that was typically quiet and residential. Fat Peach has given Bridgeport a destination bakery, with a focus on beautifully laminated sweet and savory pastries. As she enjoyed success, Breuer has opened up about life as a person with a limb difference and as a mother of a newborn. The couple discovered Breuer was pregnant in August 2024, just before the business opened, and she gave birth in April. As parents of a new baby and first-time business owners, there are fresh challenges to face every day. 'Honestly, we're just taking everything day by day, because I try not to think too far into the future,' Breuer says. 'You know, things change pretty quickly. I will say that all of my time is accounted for. I definitely try to find balance where I can, but yeah, we're pretty busy.' Raised as an adoptee in Minot, North Dakota, Breuer learned how to deal with her difference in a world that doesn't always cater to those who are different. Breuer is without a left hand due to being born with amniotic band syndrome. She recounts how her mother found inspiration by reading an article about a woman living in Greece with a limb difference. 'Her mom treated her like everyone else and basically just told her that, you know, you can do whatever you want to do. It might look a little different, but you can do anything you set your mind to. And that's kind of the mindset that she had when she was raising me, and I think that without that sort of upbringing, I don't think I would be who I am today.' Breuer adds: 'There wasn't any social media, and I didn't really see anyone like me on TV, and I never really met anyone like me in person. I was very fortunate to get to have parents that took everything in stride.' Kerrie Breuer and David Castillo opened Fat Peach in 2024. Here, Breuer operates a stand mixer. Kerrie Breuer wants to be a role model for others. Practice has been a key to finding success for Breuer, knowing that she looks different while whisking ingredients in a bowl compared to someone with two hands. 'You know, I might hold things a little bit differently. If I'm stirring something in a really large bowl, I might hug it close to my body so that I actually have some stability, or I'll put like a rag underneath it. Other than that, I don't use adaptive tools. I was born without a hand, so I'm totally used to working without it.' Those experiences have taught her it's OK to fail, and Breuer wants others in the disabled community to understand they're not alone: 'The more you put yourselves in situations where you're learning something new, the more confident that you're going to be trying something later,' she says. Fat Peach Bakery replaced Bridgeport Bakery, a neighborhood staple for 50 years, which briefly reopened under new ownership and became Bridgeport Bakery 2.0 before closing in 2021. Both were best known for cookies and for paczkis, with long lines forming on Fat Tuesdays. Fat Peach Bakery chose a different approach, focusing on sourdough-based, fancy, flaky pastries with unexpected fillings, and a surprise approach to their ever-changing weekly menu. Castillo and Breuer were inspired by Mexican café culture and a desire to create a workplace that nurtured their employees as well as the neighborhood. 'We were both at a point in our careers where we felt like it was time to try to work for ourselves,' Breuer says. 'There was a ton of self-doubt, but we really love Bridgeport and we wanted to bring something special to the neighborhood.' So, how does it all work, being new parents and running a popular bakery? Fat Peach keeps a system in place that allows for flexibility and creativity. Castillo is a rare pastry chef with savory and sweet experience, and that gives him an advantage when he's not making the dough or involved with lamination. Breuer comes during weekend mornings to help them finish pastries. Their baby is growing up steeped in pastry and delicious smells, right there in the kitchen with them as they complete the offerings for the week. 'He sleeps in his carrier sometimes or I'll just like, baby wear him. And then I just work on projects that I can do while wearing a baby in the kitchen. It's a pretty close-knit team in a very small kitchen, so we're all very aware of him.' For now, Breuer's balancing motherhood and working a few days of the week, while Castillo takes on a heavier workload with baking and running the business. 'We kind of just pass off responsibilities as needed. Communication is key.' 'David works on the dough at the beginning of the week, and then I kind of do like the random little things that need to be done, like taking inventory and ordering things,' Breuer says. 'And then Cecilia does a lot of our fillings, and then I kind of help her out where I can.' A key hire was Cecilia Iwata, an expert pastry cook who is essential to their kitchen but also helps with customers and other front-facing tasks. Now, instead of just Castillo and Breuer, thanks to their immediate success, they've hired additional staff, including assistant bakers and a dishwasher. 'Cecilia is probably like, honestly… Cecilia is like my left hand,' says Breuer with a laugh. 'She's been with us since day one, so she kind of does a little bit of everything.' Having a limb difference has led Breuer to hold kitchen gear differently. Their growing crew includes a dishwasher, a few pastry cooks, and hopefully more to come in time as they expand their small business. Breuer relishes the prospect of building a healthy work environment where their staff can thrive and enjoy their creativity: 'I feel very lucky to have them. I don't think we could get it done without them,' she says. A Canadian chef ran a cheekily named YouTube channel, Stump Kitchen, producing videos sharing her journey. But there are few visible role models in the kitchen space who face the same challenges. Now, almost a year after opening, Breuer is seizing her own platform and wants people to know and understand more about finding success with limb differences. She doesn't want people to underestimate members of the community, especially youngsters. 'There have been a couple of kids that have come into our bakery, and I'm sure they don't really see as many people like them,' she says. 'So if I can sort of spread awareness about what people with limb differences can be capable of, yes. That can be a really positive thing.' She adds: 'Especially if you're a kid, try everything at least once and don't be worried if the process looks different than everyone else. Like, I might hold a bowl different while I'm whisking something than someone with two hands. Just don't be afraid to try something at least once.' Eater Chicago All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Carla Gugino joins Brad Pitt in 'Cliff Booth' film
Actor Carla Gugino is the latest addition to Brad Pitt-starrer 'The Adventures of Cliff Booth'. Actor Carla Gugino is the latest addition to Brad Pitt-starrer 'The Adventures of Cliff Booth'. Directed by David Fincher , the project also stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Elizabeth Debicki and Scott Caan, as per Deadline. If the reports are to be believed, the film will follow one of Quentin Tarantino's most iconic characters as he serves as a Hollywood fixer in a follow-up to Pitt's Oscar-winning turn in One Upon a Time in Hollywood. The character details of Gugino have not been disclosed yet. The project is expected to go on floors later this year. Gugino was recently seen opposite Naomi Watts and Bill Murray in The Friend and will next appear in Amazon Studios' action comedy Heads of State, alongside Idris Elba and John Cena. On the TV side, Gugino is coming off a Critics Choice Award nomination for The Fall of the House of Usher for Netflix. Other credits include HBO Max's Jett and The Girls on the Bus, Peacock's Leopard Skin and Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House.
Express Tribune
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Carla Gugino joins Brad Pitt in Netflix's ‘Cliff Booth' movie directed by David Fincher
Carla Gugino has officially joined the cast of The Adventures of Cliff Booth, Netflix's highly anticipated film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt. The movie, based on a script by Quentin Tarantino, continues the story of Cliff Booth, the character Pitt portrayed in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a role that earned him an Academy Award. Plot details for the upcoming film remain under wraps, but sources describe it as following Booth's life as a Hollywood fixer. Gugino's role in the project has not yet been disclosed, but her addition to the ensemble cast adds another layer of prestige to an already star-studded lineup. The cast includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Elizabeth Debicki, and Scott Caan. Production for The Adventures of Cliff Booth is expected to begin later this year. Netflix has not commented on Gugino's casting, but the streaming giant is reportedly investing heavily in the project. Carla Gugino is no stranger to high-profile roles. She was most recently seen in The Friend with Naomi Watts and Bill Murray and will appear next in Amazon Studios' Heads of State alongside Idris Elba and John Cena. On the television side, she earned a Critics Choice nomination for The Fall of the House of Usher and has starred in notable series like The Haunting of Hill House, Jett, and Leopard Skin. With Fincher directing, Tarantino scripting, and Pitt returning to one of his most iconic roles, The Adventures of Cliff Booth is shaping up to be a major cinematic event.
Los Angeles Times
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Étoile creators on the ‘tough fight' for original TV shows in Hollywood
Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino, creators of Amazon Studios' 'Étolie' discuss the world of dance, selling the show to Amazon and the rough road ahead with L.A. Times repoter Yvonne Villareal.
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Thuso Mbedu teams up with Mark Ruffalo in the thrilling crime drama 'Task'
Alison Oliver and Thuso Mbedu in new crime drama series called "Task". Image: Supplied Multi-award-winning South African actress Thuso Mbedu has joined the likes of Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo in the new crime series 'Task'. Set to drop in September, the show will see Mbedu star as Sergeant Aleah Clinton, who is part of a task force that is sent out to put an end to a violent string of robberies in a working-class neighbourhood of Philadelphia. This seven-episode series is created and written by the creator of 'Mare of Easttown', Brad Ingelsby. The rest of the star-studded cast includes Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Raúl Castillo, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Fabien Frankel and Alison Oliver. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ This series marks the 33-year-old's fifth international project as she continues to fly the South African flag high. She made her international breakthrough in 2021 after she became the lead actress in Amazon Studios' adaptation of Colson Whitehead's novel, 'The Underground Railroad', slipping into the skin of Cora Randall, a slave on the Randall plantation in Georgia. The actress went on to appear in multiple other award-winning movies and TV shows, such as the internationally acclaimed movie 'The Woman King' in 2022, playing Nawi alongside award-winning actress Viola Davis. She also voiced the role of Annete in an animated television series called 'Castlevania: Nocturne' in 2023. She went on to voice the character of Junia in the award-winning 'Mufasa: The Lion King' in 2024. Mbedu has also received nominations internationally for her roles in some movies, which include the award for Best Actress at the Critics' Choice Awards. She won the Outstanding Performance award at the Gotham Awards for her role in 'The Underground Railroad', and she went on to win the TV Breakout Star Award in the same year at the Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards. Mbedu is also a two-time International Emmy Award nominee and won an award for Best Performance by an actress in 2018. Meanwhile, she announced in January that she will appear star in 'Children of Blood and Bone' and will be sharing the screen alongside Hollywood heavyweights such as Amandla Sternberg, Damson Idris, Cynthia Erivo, Viola Davis, Idris Elba as well as Lashana Lynch. Watch the 'Task' trailer below:
