Inspiring Conversations with Ivy Nguyen of The Buttery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivy Nguyen.

Ivy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Vietnam, where I grew up surrounded by art, creativity, and my family’s bakery of over 30 years. Pastry became the place where I could blend both art and emotion. When I moved to the U.S., I brought with me my family’s work ethic and a belief that I could build something meaningful from the ground up.
I’ve been a pastry chef for more than fifteen years, working in different kitchens and constantly teaching myself new techniques. The Buttery began as a small dream I started at home — testing recipes and slowly learning how to turn passion into a business. With a lot of help of my partner, Michael, and a dedicated team, we built The Buttery during a time when foot traffic was slow and every customer had to be earned. But our community showed up. People traveled across the county for our pastries, and features from LA Eater, Food Network, and Orange Coast Magazine encouraged us to keep going.
My journey hasn’t been a straight line — I’ve failed, reinvented, and grown through every season. As an immigrant, a mom, an artist, and a chef, I pour all parts of myself into my work. Today, I’m proud that The Buttery represents quality, authenticity, and heart — and even now, I still feel like I’m just getting started.

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?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Our location has very low foot traffic, so in the beginning every customer had to be earned through word of mouth, social media, and a lot of consistency. On top of that, the economy has been challenging — ingredient costs, packaging, labor, and rent have all increased significantly, which puts a lot of pressure on a small bakery like ours.
Balancing those realities while still creating high-quality pastries and maintaining a great customer experience has been one of the biggest challenges.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Buttery is a small, independent bakery and café in Fountain Valley known for high-quality pastries, croissants, matcha drinks, and Asian-inspired creations. We specialize in laminated dough, creative seasonal pastries, and drinks made with real ingredients — no shortcuts. Customers often come to us for our garlic cheese bread, pistachio croissants, mooncakes, and our popular Matcha Monday.
What sets us apart is the intention and craftsmanship behind everything we make. Our pastries are developed with both technique and creativity, influenced by my Vietnamese roots and my family’s 30-year baking legacy. We’re a small team, but we focus on quality, authenticity, and consistency. Every item is made with care, from the dough to the final presentation.
At The Buttery, we don’t just sell pastries — we create experiences that feel warm, thoughtful, and memorable.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I read a lot of pastry books from world-renowned chefs like Pierre Hermé and Cédric Grolet — their work constantly inspires me to refine my technique and stay curious. Outside of pastry, I love books like How to Win Friends and Influence People, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Sapiens, and Homo Deus. Reading at night is how I relax while still learning and growing.
I also follow pastry chefs and bakeries around the world on Instagram to spark new ideas and stay connected to trends. And on the practical side, Canva and my iPhone Notes app are basically extensions of my brain — I use them every day to plan, design, organize, and capture ideas the moment they come.
These small tools and resources help keep me creative, grounded, and always learning.

Pricing:

• Pastries & croissants: $5.50–$7.50
• Matcha & Coffee: $5.95–$7.95
• Our Signature Garlic Cheese Bread: $6.50

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebutteryoc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_buttery_oc/?hl=en
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-buttery-fountain-valley?start=40