Today we’d like to introduce you to Catalina Cueto.
Hi Catalina, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Lina’s Bakery really started from my love for creating moments that bring people together. Growing up in Chile, food was always at the center of family, conversation, and making people feel at home. When I moved to the U.S. as a teenager, I think I carried that with me.
I started baking because I genuinely loved it, and over time I became obsessed with perfecting recipes. I wanted to create cookies that weren’t just sweet, but full of flavor. That’s actually where our slogan, “Less Sweet. More Flavor.” comes from. I wanted people to taste every ingredient instead of just sugar.
What started as baking for family and friends slowly turned into weekend farmers markets, local coffee shop partnerships, and meeting so many amazing people in our community. Every cookie is still made from scratch, and I love creating new seasonal flavors inspired by memories, places, and the little moments that make life feel special.
Building Lina’s Bakery has definitely been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also been the most rewarding. It’s required a lot of sacrifices—missing birthdays, family celebrations, holidays, and special moments because there was dough to make, markets to prepare for, or orders to finish. There have been plenty of long nights, early mornings, and moments where I’ve questioned whether I was capable of building this. But every time I see someone take a bite of one of my cookies, or a familiar customer comes back week after week, it reminds me why I started.
At the end of the day, I’m not just hoping to build a bakery. I’m hoping to build something people feel connected to. If one of our cookies becomes part of someone’s Sunday morning coffee, a gift for someone they love, or a small moment shared with family or friends, then I’ve accomplished so much more than just selling cookies.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. I think social media often shows the beautiful parts of running a business, but behind the scenes there’s a lot that people don’t see.
There have been so many sacrifices along the way. I’ve missed birthdays, family celebrations, holidays, and time with the people I love because I had cookies to bake, markets to prepare for, or orders to finish. I’ve had more 2- or 3-hour nights of sleep than I can count, and there have been plenty of moments where I’ve questioned whether I was doing enough or if I was capable of building the business I dream about.
I also don’t think people realize how many jobs come with owning a small business. One minute I’m developing recipes, the next I’m answering emails, designing marketing materials, delivering cookies to coffee shops, setting up a farmers market booth, or trying to figure out the bookkeeping. You really do become everything.
But I also wouldn’t trade it. Every challenge has taught me something, and every small win reminds me why I started. Seeing familiar faces come back every weekend, hearing that our cookies became part of someone’s birthday celebration, or watching someone light up when they try a new flavor makes all those long nights worth it.
I’m still learning every day, and honestly, I think that’s one of the most beautiful parts of entrepreneurship. You grow right alongside your business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Lina’s Bakery is a boutique cookie bakery that specializes in handcrafted gourmet cookies made completely from scratch. Everything is baked in small batches, and I love creating seasonal flavors that keep people excited to come back and see what’s new.
I think one of the first things people notice is how beautiful the cookies are. I put a lot of thought into making them feel a little special, whether it’s the toppings, the colors, or the little details that make each flavor unique. But my favorite part is when they take that first bite and say, “These aren’t too sweet!” Honestly, that’s the best compliment I can get. From the very beginning, my goal was to create cookies that let the flavors shine instead of just tasting like sugar. That’s where our motto, Less Sweet. More Flavor., comes from.
I’m also really proud that we’re constantly creating new flavors. Some are inspired by desserts I grew up with, others by ingredients I love or places I’ve traveled. I always want people to feel excited to stop by and discover something new.
More than anything though, I hope people think of Lina’s Bakery as a place that brings people together. Whether it’s picking up a box to share with family, surprising a friend, or treating yourself after a long week, I love knowing our cookies get to be part of those little moments. At the end of the day, that’s what I’m most proud of—not just the cookies themselves, but the memories people create around them.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
One of my favorite things about this area is the sense of community. Through farmers markets, local coffee shops, and small businesses, I’ve met so many incredible people who genuinely want to support one another. As a small business owner, that kind of encouragement means everything. Some of my customers have been with me since the very beginning, and seeing them come back week after week has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.
If I had to pick one thing I’d change, it would probably be that life here can feel really fast-paced. Everyone is constantly on the go, and it’s easy to forget to slow down and enjoy the little moments. In a way, that’s something I hope Lina’s Bakery can encourage. Whether it’s sharing a cookie over coffee with a friend or taking a few minutes for yourself, I love the idea of creating small moments that help people pause, even if it’s just for a little while.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.linasbakery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linasbakeryco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BQ3Wdtu8o/?mibextid=wwXIfr
