Versailles woman shares love of baking
Wanda English Burnett
Dominic Barriga, Aerial Spencer and their son, Anthony, pose in front of the Christmas tree in their cozy home in Versailles. Aerial said she loves Christmas and their home reflected it with all the decorations, even the kitchen cabinets were wrapped with ribbon. Aerial bakes to make others happy and the benefits for herself are great too!
Coming off the “Home for the Holidays” event on the square in Versailles the first week of December, Aerial Spencer, owner of Natural Kitchen Creations, had high praise for the event. “I just can’t say enough good things about it,” she noted in an interview in her home recently.
The Farmer’s Market, sponsored by Main Street Versailles, was a great outlet for her as her passion for cooking was gaining momentum. She participated as a vendor this past summer and looks forward to another season next year, although she has a toddler now and looks forward to another child in July.
The self-proclaimed holistic baker says she’s a “cook-from-scratch” kind of girl, who enjoys sharing with others. She and her partner, Dominic Barriga, both of Versailles, began a health journey a few years ago and now cook and eat as wholesome as possible. “We do not buy anything in the frozen section,” Aerial noted. She said everything she makes for her family and to sell is as fresh as possible and she loves going to Langden Meats and Westport Locker for some supplies. “They are just the best.”
Aerial and Dominic met online and knew from the beginning they were meant to be together. In just a short time they had moved in together. They’ve been together about five years.
Aerial was very open about her life saying she was a product of the Foster Care System, which she described as “not being so great.” She suffered from postpartum depression after having her son, Anthony, and says she believes people should talk about it more. “Baking saved my life,” she said. She poured her heart and soul into making those cobblers, cookies, cakes, brownies, candy, and more. She hoped people would enjoy the wholesome products she produced.
Following the “cottage laws” has Aerial limited in some of the cooking she would like to do for others, but where there’s a will – there’s a way. She knows she won’t always have a small kitchen – and one day dreams of having her own restaurant or place where she can make anything!
She said she taught herself how to cook but would absolutely love to go to a culinary school where she could dream outside the box. She is passionate about how food is prepared and absolutely hates to see anything wasted. Sometimes when she over plans for an event – well, she discounts the left-over product, and then simply gives away what’s left. “I just can’t stand to see it wasted,” Aerial told The Versailles Republican, followed by, “And I love to help others.”
Dominic is completely on board with her mission and has helped with research and even bought her a label maker. Together the couple see what others are doing and bring their standard up or even beyond when possible. Aerial has started making yeast garlic parmesan bread and you can bet there’s more to follow. She makes homemade cocoa mix and a variety of syrups to sweeten your drinks.
Aerial rolls out an amazing amount of product from her tiny kitchen on 681 S. High Street. She explained that Dominic helps her with so much – particularly caring for their son, and she just makes do with a fold out table and lots of determination. She didn’t go into the business on the spur of the moment. She did her homework and knew she could be successful.
If you’re tired from the hustle and bustle of the season, just contact Aerial online at her page Natural Kitchen Creations and she will be happy to help with your baking list.
