Mireya Rodriguez is the owner of Belle Estanni Bake Shoppe in Valparaiso, and her story is defined by its strong history of family love, dedication, and heart. This shop is a small, home-based business created out of a passion for quality cuisine and family values. The name of the shop, “Belle Estanni,” is entirely composed of the name of her three children, Bela, Esteban, and Giovanni, which further showcases her family-oriented way of life.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Rodriguez states that the person she is today is a reflection of her parents. She started working at a young age and learned over time that working hard can lead to an incredibly fulfilling life. She moved out here to the Region with her family and parents a few years back.
“The lessons that they taught me and my 11 siblings growing up have stuck with us for all of these years,” Rodriguez said. “They taught all of us the value of having a strong work ethic and how hard work can lead to prosperity.”
Rodriguez started baking at a young age, and her cooking skills and mindset have been influenced by all of the women in her family. Being Mexican American, she was taught that family gatherings are incredibly important, which means that having quality meals are part of her way of life. In addition, she also has a love for art. She incorporates this passion and philosophy into her work now, which includes cakes, cookies, and various desserts.
Rodriguez later attended both Chef Eric’s Culinary Classroom and St. Joseph Center's Culinary Training Program in Los Angeles to further hone her baking skills. All of her past experiences transformed her into a veteran baker whose shop serves popular choices like cheesecakes, tres leches cake, and strawberry cakes.
“I make sure that every ingredient we use in our products is of the highest quality and made from scratch,” Rodriguez said. “Our desserts represent the soul of Mexican-American culture, so our products and their respective ingredients are an extension of that idea. Whenever I see someone enjoy our desserts, it makes my heart feel so happy and it further motivates me.”
Rodriguez believes that one should never stop learning. Challenges will always come your way one way or another, so having faith and having a strong, clear mind will always be beneficial. And of course, having a great support system helps.
“It’s really hard to describe how happy I am and how blessed I feel for being where I’m at today,” Rodriguez said. “Even during the toughest of times, I’m always seeing the good in everything. Having such a supportive family and community who believes in me really puts into perspective how fortunate I am.”
Belle Estanni Bake Shoppe is located at 4405 N Calumet Avenue in Valparaiso. Belle Estanni is also now servicing weddings. For more information, please visit https://belleestanni.com/ or email BelleEstanni@gmail.com.