Rising Stars: Meet Fawzeya Odeh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fawzeya Odeh.

Hi Fawzeya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Hi, this is Foz from FOZbakery! I am an American Immigrant who wants to share the flavors of my country, of my heritage with you! It all began when I was 12 years old. My grandma is a really good cook with a lot of recipes. Oh, I still remember the first time she taught me how to make traditional Palestinian cookies that get stuffed with dates. She taught me how to be curious and always try new flavors.

Fast forward to the year 2012 when I moved to America from Palestine. with my husband always looking for new flavors to try one night my husband was like did you ever try the cheesecake my answer was what is a Cheesecake how can cheese be a cake? And we went and bought a classic New York-style cheesecake when I tried it the first time I felt like it was really good but I wish it was less sugar

And from there the search begins for how to learn new different dessert recipes from a different culture. And Google, YouTube was my school. I learned a lot from there. After that, I start baking for family and friends, and every time I bake something. Of course, my husband was the taste tester and he’s like what are you wearing for your not selling this yet? Everybody needs to try it because it’s a masterpiece that said I always felt like I wish I can combine two cultures together and that’s how I came up with baklava cheesecake Baklava is one of my favorite desserts in Palestine when I grow up. And cheesecakes are one of my favorite desserts here in the USA. So I thought I am going to do both of these deserts together in one. And that’s how I came up with the baklava cheesecake, the star of FOZbakery, and with the help of freshLo.

Through that program, they introduced me to Rachel Desrohers & the Incubator Kitchen Collective where I create all my baked goods in a shared-use commercial kitchen. Through this kitchen, I get mentorship, support, and help as I grow my food business! In 2021 I even won a Kroger Food Artisan Grant that allowed me to work rent-free for a year while I continued to grow. It was a big help for the start-up FOZbakery.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would say so far so good it’s a road that has the good and the challenging the easy and sometimes struggling But I am enjoying every bit of it, especially when you were doing the thing that I love and you enjoy It will always feel like a blessing.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My job is a full-time mom of three And we are a pretty busy schedule between school, sports, and life.

I started FOZbakery first, as a passion second when my kids grow up, and every one of them finds a way in life. I will have FOZbakery to keep me busy and to pass it to my grandkids just like my grandma taught me all about baking.

I am so proud of FOZbakery now and how far it’s going.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Are you sure did learn a lot during the pandemic that is nothing can stop you if you have passion and willing to learn.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @FOZbakery
• Facebook: FOZbakery

Image Credits
Dyah Miller