Li Cui’e: Always Seeking for Perfection

Li Cui’e, from Shangqiu, Henan province, is a graduate of the 6th batch of SYB. She used to intern at JW Mariott Hotel Shanghai Changfeng Park. During the 4 years after her graduation, she has worked in hotels, western restaurants, and social bakeries, making both pastries and breads. She prefers making breads rather than pastries because that helps her calm down inside.

Li Cui’e and her classmates at baking center

Making breads is like watching kids growing up

Her favorite experience is the one in a social bakery. She had worked there for 2 years and she was involved in the whole procedure from the start to success. Speaking of this experience, she is quite proud of it, ’It has several branches now, it feels like they are of my own. The R&D head often says that “Making breads and creating a brand is like watching kids growing up.” All the staffs also devote themselves to it and regard it as the bakery of themselves.

Seek perfection in every process of making breads

Comparing to joining in a matured bakery, she can learn more techniques and experiences from joining in a new brand. The bakery adapts the rotation working system, the function of each job is very separated and detailed. In the past 2 years, she has been responsible for preparing ingredients, cutting, shaping, baking, and overseeing the whole process.

Li Cui’e and her works

Although this system may cause the repetitiveness, she finds that also has an advantage. “Despite of the repetitiveness, each day is different. For example, if you are cautious enough, you will find that different methods of dough kneading will make the cutting different. And each baker has varied demands. I learned fast from the difference.” The detailed function allows her to seek perfection in every process of making breads.

I feel happy when I participate in the whole process of making a bread

Li Cui’e celebrating her birthday at SYB

But she still prefers doing the whole process of making breads on her own. ‘Anyone could not do the rotation work forever, after all, I like the baking industry. I feel happy when I participate in the whole process of making a bread, from beginning to the end, from kneading a dough to having it out of the oven, just like watching a bread growing up.’ Now she works in a hotel, making breads for the restaurant. She likes late shift better, ‘It’s more relieved working at night. Because I feel happy to work from the beginning to the end on my own.’

Mitty GU

Communication Coordinator

Translated by Cassie