François Kiemde, classically trained French Pastry Chef
& owner of PJ Murphy's Bakery, with his wife, Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde, their daughter, and two dogs.
"I am originally from Burkina Faso, West Africa. I was brought up to thrust my wisdom into the elderly. They are living libraries. Our elders are hit harder than anybody else by the pandemic. Nursing homes are being hit very hard and we run the risk of losing so many vulnerable people.Â
I am not personally worried about myself than I am worried about the elders leaving us so soon when they are supposed to enjoy their time with their kids and grand kids. I am heading towards that age bracket but I believe I have ten more years in my limbs to free wheel and feed the neighborhood one croissant at a time."
"I want to see more love sharing. The world is craving love. We are the stories that we tell ourselves. Let’s tell ourselves good stories, stories that transcend race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs. The world will be a better place."
"This pandemic has put a lot of things into perspective. I have always dreamed of putting my bread on every single plate in the family plate of all our neighborhood families. That was in New York back then, not knowing that my journey from New York city kitchen would take me to the Lexington- Hamline neighborhood by way of Wisconsin.Â
We employed a lot of people and this pandemic gave us food for thought for once: We are closer than we ever could have imagined."
"I hope The Pandemic will make people realize how connected we are. And hopefully race, age and gender won’t matter anymore."